Guyana Times Wednesday March 11, 2020

P14

UGSS calls for extension of semester break …amid political tension

Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Page 7

Issue No. 4222

THE BEACON OF TRUTH WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2020

UK Foreign Secretary calls on Granger to preserve principles of free, fair, credible elections in Guyana

...as UN also expresses concern about tabulation ruse Region 4 vote count

CJ to rule today on whether RO’s declaration satisfied law for transparency

PRICE

$80 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE:

PPP takes Nagamootoo to ERC over racist P9 charges …says PM intended to incite strife, animosity among people

Car plunges P2 off Demerara Harbour Bridge

Page 3

Elections 2020

GECOM Chair writes political parties asking for "compromise"

See story on page 7

…fiasco could have been avoided if Chair exercised her responsibility – Jagdeo

Caricom Chair to arrive in Guyana today Page 7

Page 10

...leading team of regional leaders

Police order Silvie's Variety to remain P2 closed … customers prevented from entering area …even though no activity at GECOM Elections Centre

Cop killer P11 gets life imprisonment “Choka Dhall” jailed for 18 years for killing fisherman P8

Father jailed for 20 years for killing son P11

2 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Police order Silvie’s Variety to remain closed

…customers prevented from entering area …even though no activity at GECOM Elections Centre

T

Silvie’s Variety Store

he management of Silvies Variety Store has advised the public that they would be closed as of Monday, March 10.

The announcement was made on its Facebook page, further stating that this was ordered by the Guyana Police Force (GPF). While many businesses have closed their doors on their own accord, mention was specifically made to the orders given to Silvies in the notice. The Hadfield Street, Georgetown location, which

is opposite the GECOM Elections Centre, is a popular spot for many persons to uplift hardware items and spares.

Since March 2, businesses have remained closed as the commercial district remains at a standstill.

When this publication visited several parts of the business hub throughout the week, a few persons were seen walking in the desolate streets as many stores completely shut their operations. Giftland Mall

would have opted to close on Friday but reopened the following day for commercial activities. At this time when many business owners are deciding whether or not they should operate as per normal, some have decided to limit their working hours.

It is unconfirmed whether other establishments were given similar instructions.

The Police have since denied issuing any such instructions.

On Saturday a few business owners in Georgetown expressed their dissatisfaction with the credibility of the 2020 Elections which has caused an unwarranted political atmosphere that affects their daily revenues.

In an interview with Guyana Times, Chairman of the Private Sector Commission (PSC) Gerry Gouveia stated that it is “very worrying” that many businesses are closing their doors which will ultimately result in loss of revenues.

“It is actually concerning to the Private Sector Commission, the current state of what is happening and, in fact, that business-

es leaders and business people and their employees are choosing to close their business…It is a very worrying thing because we have seen across the country and especially the urban areas that kind of action being taken

and it going take a toll on the economy and it is going take a toll on the workers.

So, it is very concerning to us,” Gouveia said.

Republic Bank (Guyana) along with Scotiabank (Guyana) and other busi-

nesses took precautionary measures by installing plyboards around their building to protect their establishment in case of any unrests unfolding within the city.

Man arraigned for murder of miner

T

wenty-six-yearold O’Neil Jeffery on Tuesday appeared before Chief Justice Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Courts charged for the murder of 59-year-old Roland Kanhai.

The now dead man was discovered in an unconscious state along the Mahdia Public Road, Region Eight (Pataro-Siparuni), and later died while receiving medical attention at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

However, on Tuesday, Jeffery was not required to plea to the indictable charge which stated that on February 29, 2020, at 111 Miles, Mahdia, Potaro

Dead: Roland Kanhai

River, he murdered Kanhai.

It was reported that the now dead man was at a bar in Mahdia imbibing when

the accused walked up to him and solicited money.

Kanhai reportedly refused to give the man the money he requested but this angered him. This led to Jeffrey picking up the miner and slamming him into a chair.

After committing the act, Jeffery relieved him of his valuables and fled the scene.

Kanhai was taken to the Mahdia Hospital in an unconscious state and was transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) where he died after suffering a fractured skull.

Jeffery will make his next court appearance on March 23, 2020.

Car plunges off Demerara Harbour Bridge

T

The Demerara Harbour Bridge

he retractor span of the Demerara Harbor Bridge has been damaged after a car reportedly careened off the structure on Monday night.

According to reports, the car was proceeding along the structure after which it made a plunge off the retractor span, resulting in damages. While the entire vehicle fell into the water, the driver was saved and taken into custody.

A crew from the DHB management was deployed

to assess the situation as these damages would prevent vessels from passing.

When contacted for details surrounding the situation on Tuesday, Managing Director of the DHB, Rawlston Adams told this publication that he was “on the bridge working” and “can’t give an update”.

Last September, a barge and tug slammed into a section of the bridge, to which the owner was slapped with a bill of $100 million. This would have shifted the spans

which connect the structure and caused a shutdown to vehicular traffic.

In the wee hours of that morning, notices were sent out that the structure would be closed for emergency works and the only alternative was to cross the Demerara River via the speedboat service, operating at Stabroek and Vreed-en-Hoop.

Emergency actions were deployed to remedy the situation but it was hindered by unfavourable tidal conditions for a few hours.

In a few hours, workers managed to install temporary decking and some of the connecting posts.

In total, nine connecting posts were to be changed along with nine anchor chains. All marine transits were to be suspended since the unaligned structure presented unpredictability to the operation of the retractor span.

NEWS

3

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Region 4 vote count

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Wednesday, March 11 – 05:00h – 06:30h and Thursday, March 12 – 05:00h – 06:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Wednesday, March 11 – 05:35h – 07:05h and Thursday, March 12 – 06:15h – 07:45h.

CJ to rule today on whether RO’s declaration satisfied law for transparency

FERRY SCHEDULE

Parika and Supenaam departure times - 05:00h, 11:00h and 16:00h daily

WEATHER TODAY Expect sunny skies throughout the day. There will be clear skies at night. Temperatures should range between 19 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North-Easterly to East North-Easterly between 1.34 metres and 4.47 metres.

High Tide: 05:47h and 16:00h reaching maximum heights of 2.92 metres and 2.76 metres.

APNU/AFC supporters outside the High Court, some of whom hurled expletives and insults towards the international observers as they left the Court on Tuesday

Low Tide: 11:42h reaching a minimum height of 0.27 metre.

Acting Chief Justice Roxane George

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fter hearing arguments from both the applicant and respondents in the Region Four elections declaration challenge on Tuesday afternoon, Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George, is expected to hand down her ruling today.

This ruling will determine how the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) proceeds in determining whether to validate results from Region Four (DemeraraMahaica) and will ultimately impact on declaring the winner of the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections.

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) was forced to move to the courts and successfully secured injunctions to block Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo from declaring unverified results of Region Four after the statutory verification process was not being adhered to. An injunction was also obtained to halt the declaration of final results of last Monday’s poll.

After ruling on Sunday that the High Court has jurisdiction to hear the matter, CJ George on Tuesday afternoon heard arguments from lawyers for both sides on the substantive issue of whether the count of the votes in Region Four was validly tabulated from the SOPs and whether it was done in the presence of legislatively stipulated stakeholders – at the end of which, she set 14:00h today for her final ruling.

During Tuesday’s hearing, lead Counsel for the applicant Reeaz Holladar, Senior Counsel Douglas Mendes pointed out that on the issue of counting of the

votes, Mingo in his affidavit admitted that it was a clerk under him, Michelle Miller, who completed the inputting process and this was done in his absence, yet he went ahead to declare the results for the region as his personal undertaking.

In his affidavit to the court, Mingo said “I was informed by (Michelle Miller, a senior clerk appointed by GECOM and whom he had left in charge after falling ill on March 4) that in my absence the clerks inputted the data… There was a complete input of all the data for District 4 at around 7:30 pm on Wednesday under the supervision of the senior clerk…”

But Mendes argued in court that Mingo is contradicting himself with what his witnesses, including the Deputy CEO, Roxanne Meyers, said in their affidavits.

“All is being said is that Ms Miller told him that they inputted the data on the computer from Statements of Poll (SOPs) as opposed to doing the process in the presence of the other representatives…

So we can deduce from this evidence that regarding the other 458 [unverified] ballot boxes, that the information that was inputted into the system, in relation to those polling boxes, was done

by Ms Miller – senior clerk, with assistance from other clerks…,” Mendes contended.

Another violation

This, according to the Trinidadian SC, raises the question as to whether there was another violation of Section 84 (1) of the Representation of People’s Act, which requires the adding up to be done by the RO or an elections officer, which Miller does not fall under.

He pointed out that elections officers are required to take oaths but Miller is merely a senior clerk appointed by GECOM to assist the RO. Even if, according to SC Mendes, she was an elections officer, the law requires the RO to be present when this inputting exercise was being carried out.

According to SC Mendes, taking into account the consequence of the breach of that law, the RO might now want to correct this by acting

Region Four Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo and Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield at the High Court

in accordance with 84 (1) and have the entire verification process done in the presence of those entitled to be there.

This, he noted, will ensure the process is carried out by law and ensure public confidence in it.

“That cannot cause any inconvenience to anyone. On the contrary, My Lady, the failure to require that the process is done strictly in accordance with 84 (1) will lead to mistrust in the process, it could lead to suspicion and it could lead to a lack of confidence in the results that are eventually declared. There is essentially no good reasons why that order ought not to be made in the circumstances,” the Trinidadian SC posited.

No evidence of actual count In

response,

however,

lead Counsel for GECOM, the Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield and RO Mingo, Senior Counsel Neil Boston explained in court that nowhere in his client’s affidavit mentioned that the senior clerk “counted SOPs” that led to the declaration.

“There is no evidence that he did not do the final count before the declaration was made… He said that the senior officer inputs the information from the various Statements of Poll. But there is no evidence that she counted… [the SOPs] that led to the declaration made by him,” Boston stated.

However, CJ George asked what evidence there is that the RO counted the SOPs, if this was not done by the senior clerk.

TURN TO PAGE 14

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guyanatimesgy.com

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2020

Views Editor: Tusika Martin News Hotline: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544, 223-7230, 223-7231, 225-7761 Marketing: 231-8064 Accounts: 225-6707 Mailing address: Queens Atlantic Investment Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, marketing@guyanatimesgy.com

No room for dictatorship

O

n March 2, Guyanese thought they drew a proverbial line in the sand on the creeping subversion of the rule of law, which is a disturbing sign of a return to the dark days of the PNC’s dictatorial rule, especially between 1968 and 1985 under Forbes Burnham, that party’s “founder leader”.

During the last five years, there were too many examples abounding of governmental institutions — led by President David Granger — stretching and acting outside their constitutional remit and taking unilateral political decisions that plunged the country further down the Burnhamite abyss.

As usual, it began with testing actions that violated the spirit of agreements that were solemnly crafted to guide actions in the political realm. For President Granger to renege on the agreement with the AFC contained in the “Cummingsburg Accord” — to have his Prime Minister chair the Cabinet and be in charge of domestic governance — by claiming the Constitution precluded it was more than bad faith. It was a sign that, without compunction, Granger was willing to break the moral contract between parties that undergirds the rule of law writ large. The Constitution authorises the President to delegate any of his Executive powers to any of his Ministers, but unfortunately, the AFC was unwilling to challenge him on his claim. Their mouths were muzzled by the hand that feeds them.

Granger moved on to actually violate the Constitution when he disputed, in a long and contentious argument, the clear language that was inserted to approve the nomination and appointment of “any other fit and proper person” than a judge as the Chair of GECOM. He said it was simply the “perception” of the Chief Justice, to whom the matter was referred. He insisted that he was entitled to his “perception”, and took the matter all the way to the CCJ. Even when that apex court ruled against him, Granger insisted on another obtuse interpretation of the law to claim he was entitled to include his nominations on the list of six names the Opposition Leader was supposed to submit for him to choose from.

It is when these intrusions form a pattern of violations of the spirit of the rule of law that the vigilance of the citizenry becomes critical since dictatorships are usually constructed in broad daylight while the citizens are inattentive. Soon the rights of those citizens themselves are trampled upon as the “dictator in the making” enlarges the scope of his unilateral actions.

In fact, the Chief Justice had to rule that a unilateral action by President Granger to annul the leases of several West Coast Berbice farmers was illegal. But clearly, from his subsequent actions, that judgement did not serve to disabuse the President of his misapprehension of the “separation of powers” doctrine and his encouragement of the traducing of the rule of law.

Not surprisingly, the President’s cavalier attitude infected other officials of his Government, and almost every day one could read of further transgressions. The secreting of the “signing bonus” received from Exxon in the Bank of Guyana (BOG) for over a year — done by two senior Ministers: Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman and Minister of Finance Winston Jordan — and not in the Consolidated Fund as mandated by the Constitution (Art 216) was only the tip of the proverbial iceberg of egregious transgressions.

The overreach on the oil contract signed by Trotman is still an ongoing saga, which had to be approved by the imperious Granger.

Now that Guyanese have voted, events currently unfolding in Guyana have left citizens, in shock and lost for words, as they cannot believe that what is happening before their very eyes is actually real.

The fight for the return of free and fair elections and to be ruled by a democratic government was not an easy battle; it was long and hard. We are now in 2020, and we had thought that, by this time, the nation had matured politically and leaders would act responsibly to save their country from descending into chaos and confusion and going backwards.

Unfortunately, this is not the case; we have leaders who would hold on to power at all cost, even at the expense of seeing their country being destroyed.

In the interest of the nation, the APNU/AFC should let their followers know the truth of the election results.

A plane passes in front of the full moon as seen from Curitiba, Brazil (AFP photo)

Asking for a truce or a unity Government now is tantamount to condoning cheating and stealing

Dear Editor, These flamethrower calls only from Guyanese for a truce and/or a unity Government amidst the virtual global call by the international community demanding that the verification and tabulation process for Region Four be completed in accordance with the laws of Guyana for the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections, as a prerequisite for the declaration of which political party won the elections.

From the commencement of the General Elections cycle, each political party knew and accepted the rules and laws governing the electoral process. To abruptly change the rules to prevent the true winner from being announced and make a declaration that breaches the law is to declare a farcical, fabricated and fraudulent result.

Those GECOM employees and Commissioners and their enablers from APNU/ AFC are seeking to circumvent the laws of Guyana with prejudice to the party that won the election.

When the United States Secretary of State, European Union, United Kingdom, Canada, and international organisations such as the Commonwealth of Nations, Organisation of American States, The Carter Center and even our fettered Caricom - are asking that we adhere to statutory provisions, adhere to the laws of Guyana and have a transition to a new Government within the confines of the law, most specifically to not violate the Representation of the People Act. Instead, we have these embarrassing damages being done to our fledgeling democracy, Guyanese suffering and experiencing tremendous losses economically, socially and politically.

Asking for a truce or a unity Government now is tantamount to condoning cheating and stealing. The call further disrupts and discredits the unfolding of a democratic process that all political parties signed on to.

It is the height of illegality, deceit and dishonesty to bypass the clearly defined laws set forth for the processes to be followed in conducting Guyana’s General and Regional Elections, in the first instance as occurred on March 5, 2020, with the premature declaration of Region Four results; and in the second instance, to contemplate lateral requests for unity Government and an unwarranted truce that further corrupts and undermines the democratic system in as much as it seeks to restrict and violate the rights of the winning party to form a Government as enshrined in the Constitution of Guyana.

Our local and diaspora politicians and commentators must not be so disingenuous, by encouraging and condoning the shifting of legally posted goalposts, to make statements that, known or unknown to them, will undermine the overwhelming circumstantial evidence and the multiple cases of direct evidence, which indicate that the PPP/C won the March 2, 2020 elections. The PPP/C adhered to the laws and rules of Guyana and won the General and Regional Elections; give them their due. We all want inclusive, diverse and participatory governance, this will never occur by aborting and subverting the laws specifically set up for the electoral process in Guyana.

For President Granger to claim on March 9, 2020 that he would not allow political malefactors to hijack our democracy is akin to saying he would not al-

low his Administration to hijack democracy in Guyana.

It is cognitive dissonance expressed with amazing clarity. Only the APNU/AFC Administration has the power to hijack Guyana’s General Elections in 2020, and the evidence is overwhelming that this is just what APNU/AFC is in the process of doing.

Eight (8) rhetorical questions were asked in yesterday’s Stabroek News Editorial captioned “Truth”, dated March 9, 2020, and I have taken up the challenge to provide the obvious answers.

1. Why is it only his party which doesn’t want to follow the law? Answer: APNU/AFC lost the elections.

2. What problem could there possibly be if, as APNU/ AFC has claimed, it has won the election? Answer: See answer to question 1 above.

3. And as for non-interference, how did his Foreign Minister end up in the Region Four office threatening foreign observers with the loss of accreditation? Answer: Poor decision making.

4. If she did not go at his behest, then has he reprimanded her severely for her behaviour? Answer: No. 5. If everyone, including former Prime Ministers and Heads of State, think that something was seriously wrong with the Region Four count, what is it that President Granger doesn’t see? Answer: The truth.

6. Or doesn’t want to see?

PPP/C taking control of the Government on the basis of winning the majority of votes cast.

7. Surely his craving to hang on to power cannot be so great he would turn his party around to face towards the past and not the future, and eradicate all the progress it had so slowly and painfully made since 1992? Answer:

Yes, based on the evidence so far.

8. And was it not his Government which along with others recognised Juan Guaidó as the legitimate interim President of Venezuela because of a fraudulent election? Answer: Yes. In closing, it is noteworthy that based on the demographics of Guyanese in Guyana re: Guyanese of Indian Ancestry - 39.8 per cent; Guyanese of African Ancestry – 30 per cent; Guyanese of Mixed Ancestry - 19.9 per cent; Indigenous Guyanese 10.5 per cent; Guyanese of Chinese, European and Other Ancestry - 0.5 per cent; - the foregoing is used to illustrate that the major parties clearly need at least 25 per cent voting support outside of their core constituency to obtain a majority. So, this mantra being peddled conveniently that whoever wins the election, results in Guyana losing; calls for a Government of national unity and a truce; does not stand up to reasoned scrutiny under our democratic system.

The call is like a dust cloud used to blind many Guyanese from accepting the reality that in our democratic system, once honoured, constitutionally requires that the winning party controls the Government. Let us not sacrifice principle for party paramountcy.

Let us hope that a democratic transition occurs as sought by Michael Pompeo, United States Secretary of State and recognise that the very serious threat of personal sanctions against violators of the Representation of the People Act and the Constitution of Guyana takes precedence over party paramountcy and self-interest.

Sincerely, Nigel Hinds

guyanatimesgy.com

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2020

5

You can send your letters with pictures to: Guyana Times, Queens Atlantic Investment Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown, Guyana or letters@guyanatimesgy.com

The Ides of March are upon us Dear Editor, The campaign for elections is over now, the results are known and the evidence is written on Statements of Poll (SOPs) and contained in well-secured ballot boxes. The legal, honest and decent way forward is clear; a Returning Officer from GECOM has to work with party agents in the presence

of observers to tabulate a credible result for District/ Region Four. I suggest that all the containers with ballot boxes be transported to a central, secure location, such as the TSU tarmac at Eve Leary; in the (now likely) event of a discrepancy between GECOM and party SOPs, the relevant ballot boxes can be retrieved

and counted on the spot, in the presence of party agents, observers and media operatives. This is what is meant by verification. This process must be followed meticulously before any declaration of results can be made; a bona fide report written by the Chief Election Officer made for the GECOM Commission to consider and then make a

final pronouncement, then and only then, can any legitimate Government be installed and a President sworn to serve. All else is noise.

Guyana's elections must be deemed credible by the international observers present and our next Government be recognised as legitimate. Today, the

Officials can be charged for making false declarations Dear Editor, Regarding the fiasco at GECOM, specifically the premature declaration of results, Guyanese are asked to note that it is a chargeable offence for a GECOM official to make a false declaration.

Refer to the following section: LAWS OF GUYANA

Representation of The People [Act] Cap 1:03 [pg] 157 PART XVI MISCELLANEOUS ELECTION OFFENCES 137. (1) Every person who:(i) in any form, or in any certificate on the reverse side

thereof, makes any declaration or statement that he does not believe to be true, or has reasonable grounds to believe to be false, in any material respect; shall be guilty of a misdemeanour, and be liable on conviction— (i) if he is an election offi-

cer or other person exercising powers or performing duties connected with or relating to the conduct of elections, to a fine of sixty-five thousand dollars and to imprisonment for two years.

With regards, Craig Sylvester

Hoping that good sense prevails and GECOM completes verification process Dear Editor, I have observed with consternation the flippant way persons have been addressing the issue of possible sanctions being imposed on our country by the ABC countries and the European Union. Persons are behaving as if we can withstand these sanctions and that they will not cause any hardships on our citizens. I believe that it is important that we edify ourselves on the effects sanctions could have on us.

According to a study by Neuenkirc and Nuemeier (2015), the US and UN economic sanctions had a statistically significant impact on the target country’s economy by reducing GDP growth by more than 2 per cent a year. The study also concluded that the negative effects typically last for a period of 10 years amounting to an aggregate decline in the target country’s GDP per capita of 25.5 per cent. The study also noted that sanctions are the only measure separating a country from military action being taken against them.

Here is a list of 7 usual effects of economic sanctions on a country: 1. Economic sanctions lead to an increase in the poverty gap and depressed sections of the population feel the most impact.

2. Elites manage to negotiate the adverse effects to a

greater level than the poorer citizens.

3. Sanctions have a damaging effect on income inequality and impact ordinary people more than the sanctioned country leaders.

4. Sanctioned regimes selfishly attempt to magnify the sanctions negative effect on the economy to prevent the population from revolting.

5. The negative impact that sanctions have on economic growth affect women, minority communities and other marginalised groups to a greater extent.

6. Sanctions have a significant negative impact on the living standards and humanitarian situation of the population in the sanctioned state.

7. Sanctions lead to less aid getting through, which further exacerbate the situation.

That said, there must be an understanding of sanctions imposed against a country and sanctions imposed against offending individuals.

For example, sanctions were imposed on Major General Gabriel Amisi Kumba and John Numbi, a former senior police officer of the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2019 by the United States. These two were seen as the major contributors to the delaying of elec-

tions and the suppression of the opposition. All their and their families financial assets in the US were blocked and Americans were banned from engaging in any financial transaction with them.

In 2019 also, officials of the Venezuelan Government were sanctioned by the United States. All assets held in the United States were blocked and were restricted from being transferred, paid, exported, withdrawn or otherwise dealt with. All business transactions with those officials were prohibited. This, therefore, forced countries and companies to choose between doing business with the US or the Venezuelans.

After the less than credible elections in Belarus in 2019, the ABC countries along with the European Union imposed sanctions on the following individuals: all the Government officials who made up the new Government, persons from the Election Centre who seemed to participate in assisting with the fraudulent elections, and journalists who promoted the Government’s fraudulent position. These individuals were banned from travelling to any of the countries that imposed the sanctions, along with restriction from travelling on airlines owned by companies domiciled in

any of those countries.

These are just three examples, there are much more that can be used.

These examples, however, highlight that once it is deemed that you in any way played a role in electoral fraud there are consequences and the possibility of individual international sanctions.

Hopefully, this knowledge will give those persons continuing in complicity with the electoral fraud being perpetrated on the Guyanese people some amount of pause.

The fact that there was an attempt to rig the 2020 National and Regional Elections is not up for dispute. What took place last week occurred in full view of the Guyanese, the European Union, diplomats from the ABC countries and representatives of the Commonwealth, Caricom and other stakeholders.

That said, it is my sincerest hope that good sense prevails and GECOM completes the process of verifying votes using the Statements of Poll, in accordance with the law, or return to the ballot boxes to conduct a full recount so that the 2020 General and Regional Elections can be deemed credible.

Yours truly, S Greaves

What is conclusive evidence in the Statements of Poll?

Dear Editor, It is more than passing strange that President Granger and his APNU cohorts have all been conveying the impression that the results of the 2020 elections are known only to GECOM and must be communicated

by GECOM to the people of Guyana. But in 2015, David Granger was eminently correct when he said that we have in Guyana what are called Statements of Poll, so that the results of the elec-

tions are not secret. The results are known.

Now, therefore, in 2020, David Granger and APNU are noticeably silent about these Statements of Poll. I am yet to see a single reference to the Statements of Poll by Granger or any member of APNU for these 2020 elections. The value of the information on the Statements of Poll has not changed since Granger spoke in 2015. Indeed, the intrinsic value of the

Statements of Poll is to be gathered from Section 83 (9A) of the Representation of the People Act of the Laws of Guyana. It provides: “The Statement of Poll once posted in a conspicuous place outside the polling place, constitutes conclusive evidence of the result of the election for that place.”

This Section undergirds the importance of the verification exercise to be undertaken pursuant to Section

84 of the Act, to be based on the information contained in the Statements of Poll.

What then is the conclusive evidence in the Statements of Poll, known to all, including David Granger and his APNU followers? It is that the PPP won the 2020 elections. This is not secret information. GECOM has only to confirm that conclusive evidence.

Sincerely, Selwyn Persaud

world enters the third day of an economic meltdown attributed to the COVID-19 outbreak and Saudi Arabia and Russia have begun a vicious war of oil sales which have sent oil prices plummeting hourly, US$32 at the time of writing for Brent crude with analysts predicting US$15 as the final price for the rest of the year, Guyana is about to face financial hardships not seen in a generation. The bet on oil has backfired and it cannot be relied on as the pillar upon which we can stand much less build our future upon.

Guyana's reserves of foreign currency are seriously depleted and our gold reserves are now minimal following the Granger Administration selloff. Utterances from senior United States State Department figures leave no doubt that any Government installed without a transparent verification of the

District/Region Four votes will not be recognised as legitimate. I urge all Guyanese to support this verification process (even if it means a full recount) in the interest of our safety, security, and place among the legitimate nations of the world.

The road ahead for our nation will be difficult and cannot be done as a rogue state; should we become a pariah, we the citizens will endure untold suffering.

Guyanese have been down this road before and survived but it is not the one we ever wanted to see our children trod. There is still time to get the verification started, there is no need for GECOM to be fighting a court case at this time; all that is required is the integrity of persons and political maturity to accept the verified count. The Ides of March are upon us.

Dear Editor, The events from Tuesday, March 3 to Sunday, March 8 have revealed the following: · APNU/AFC is an undemocratic institution just like its predecessor, the PNC. · GECOM through its executive attempted several times to fabricate the results and perpetuate electoral fraud for APNU/AFC’s benefit. This points to collusion at the very top of these institutions. · The Chair of GECOM is compromised for she remained silent while the attempts at rigging were carried out. · The Chair is now seeking shelter under the same Constitution she knew was being violated by GECOM’s executive while she stayed silent in an adjacent room. · The verification of the votes will be resisted by GECOM and APNU/AFC because it will confirm collusion. · Elements of the police are working in tandem with APNU/AFC and GECOM. Witness the Commander’s transfer. · Evidence points to

a PPP/C victory by a sizeable margin and this is reinforced by the actions of APNU/AFC and GECOM. · The international community is keen to have a democratically elected Government in Guyana. · On Thursday, March 5 the international community, local observers and the Opposition parties saved Guyana from a certain coup d’état. · Dr Karen Cummings’ intimidation of the international observers in the presence of the US Ambassador and others is a good measure of the level of desperation in APNU/AFC camp. · Against the backdrop of possible sanctions, a large segment of the population is either morally bankrupt or extremely gullible for they stay silent while the onslaught against democracy is taking place.

I trust the court will act in an expeditious manner so that order and rule of law are restored at the earliest.

Respectfully, Robin Singh

All is revealed

Sincerely, Ravi Ram

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2020

Page

Foundation

EAT A W RAINBO

I

crave unhealthy food such as chips, French fries, candy, and ice cream. But I'm skinny, so does it matter if I eat these? Will it make me fat when I grow up?

– Mina* The foods you mention can cause problems if you eat them regularly.

They're high in fat and calories and low in nutrition. So even if you're skinny, eating a lot of them can be bad for your health.

These foods should not replace healthier ones in your diet. If you fill up on French fries and ice cream, you may be less likely to eat vegetables, fruit, and other healthy choices. So, your body could be missing out on the nutrition it needs to grow and be its best.

Will these foods make you overweight later in life? They might. It all depends on how much you eat.

Either way, eating too much of these foods over time can cause health problems.

That doesn't mean you must never eat these favourites, though. Just have them as occasional treats and be mindful of portion sizes. Set limits and plan when you'll eat them. For example, tell yourself you'll eat French fries once a week or that ice cream will be a party-on-

ly treat. You'll probably find that these foods taste even better when you're not eating them all the time. And you may notice you have more energy and staying power if you're eating healthier foods instead.

How much food should I eat?

Portion distortion People today eat way

more t h a n they used to — and way more than they need to. This means that they're constantly taking in more calories than their bodies can burn.

Unfortunately, lots of us don't realise that we're eating too much because we've become so used to seeing (and eating!) l a r g e portions.

People who consistently overeat are likely to become overweight.

They also risk getting a number of medical problems, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, bone and joint problems, breathing and sleeping problems, and even depression. Later in life, people who are overweight or obese are at greater risk for heart disease, heart failure, and stroke.

It's easy to understand why the food industry tends to serve way more food than is necessary: Customers love to feel like they're getting the best value for their money! But the value meal is no deal when it triples our calories and sets the stage for health problems.

So, what can you do to take back control? A good place to start is knowing about two things that can help you eat smart: serving sizes and recommended amounts of different foods.

Look at the label on any product package and you'll see a nutrition information section that gives a serving size for that food. Contrary to popular belief, this serving size is not telling you the amount you should be eating. It's simply a guide to help you see how many calories and nutrients – as well as how much fat, sugar, and salt – you get from eating a specific quantity of that food.

Sometimes the serving size on a package will be a lot less than you are used to eating. In some cases, like vegetables, it's perfectly OK (and even a good idea) to eat more than the serving size listed on the package.

But when it comes to foods that are high in calories, fat, or sugar, the serving size can alert you that you may be getting more

than is healthy.

One easy way to size up portions if you don't have any measurements is to use your hand as a guide: A clenched fist is about a cup — and a cup is the amount experts recommend for a portion of pasta, rice, cereal, vegetables, and fruit.

A meat portion should be about as big as your palm.

Limit the amount of added fats (like butter, mayo, or salad dressing) to the size of the top of your thumb.

Another great way to visualise appropriate portions

“W

is to use the concept of the "divided plate." Think of your plate as divided into four equal sections. Use one of the top quarters for protein. Use the other top quarter for starch, preferably a whole grain. Then fill the bottom half with veggies (or a combination of vegetables and fruit). None of the foods should overlap – or be piled high! Not only will dividing your plate like this help you keep portions under control, it can also help you to balance your meals. *Names have been changed to protect persons’ privacy. (kidshealth.org)

Connecting Identity and Poetry

ho am I?” is a question on the minds of many adolescents. This activity helps students clarify important elements of their identities by writing a poem about themselves or about a historical or literary figure. Bio-poems help students get beyond the aspects of identity that are often more obvious and familiar (such as ethnicity, gender, and age) by asking them to focus on factors that shape identity, such as experiences, relationships, hopes, and interests. By providing a structure for students to think more critically about an individual’s traits, experiences, and character, bio-poems are a way for students to demonstrate what they know about historical or literary figures.

Procedure

Select the focus of the bio-poem. Students typically write bio-poems about themselves, but the poems can also be written about historical or literary figures.

A poem typically includes the following information: Adjectives that you would use to describe yourself Relationships in your life (eg, friend, brother, daughter) Things you love Important memories Fears Accomplishments Hopes or wishes Home (location) You can adapt this format to include other items, such as important moments, heroes, beliefs, and special sayings or words. (facinghistory.org)

NEWS

7

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Elections 2020

GECOM Chair writes political parties asking for “compromise”

…fiasco could have been avoided if Chair exercised her responsibility – Jagdeo

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

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hairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Retired Justice Claudette Singh, has written to the Commissioners representing the two major political parties – People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) and APNU/AFC – calling for “compromise” in agreeing on the next steps on

the work of the electoral body.

Justice Singh made the overture on Tuesday, days after committing to not flouting the law and to await the decision by Chief Justice Roxane George, before taking a decision on the way forward regarding GECOM and the declaration of the results of the 2020 General and Regional Elections.

The GECOM Chair in an official ‘note’ to stakeholders said while the entity is a constitutional agency, it is still subjected to the laws of Guyana, “hence the mandatory injunction granted against the Commission and the Chief Elections Officer” has affected the finalisation of the Commission’s work.

She observed nonetheless, that GECOM, cognisant of the urgency with which the Commission must complete its work, anticipates “that there will be a greater level of compromise by the six commissioners in agreeing on the

next steps, following the decision of the Chief Justice”.

Avoiding fiasco

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, when asked to respond to the GECOM Chair’s letter, told Guyana Times,

also sought to restrain the Chief Elections Officer from giving a final declaration, among other reprieves.

Chief Justice Roxane George, in an emergency sitting of the High Court over the weekend, upheld the injunc-

“Had she exercised her responsibility in the first place, we could have avoided this fiasco” – Opposition Leader “I don’t have a clue what she is talking about. Had she exercised her responsibility in the first place, we could have avoided this fiasco”.

The Opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic on Thursday last managed to secure an injunction against the Returning Officer from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), Clairmont Mingo, from making any declarations for the district without first verifying the tabulations.

The mandatory injunction

tions as absolute, until the determination of the hearing.

The Chief Justice, despite a petition by GECOM to not have the courts interfere in the process, ruled that it did have supervisory jurisdiction.

She had days earlier written to Jagdeo to inform him that the electoral body will not be taking any further steps with regards the announcement of the 2020 General and Regional Elections until the determination of the ongoing court hearing.

The position was communicated by way of a letter to the Opposition Leader following a correspondence by Jagdeo, outlining formally, concerns over the declarations of the Region Four electoral results.

Jagdeo, in a letter to the Chairperson on Saturday, noted that under the guidelines in Section 83 of the Representation of the People Act, the ballots had been counted and Statements of Poll (SOPs) generated, each of which was carbon copied to political parties.

He was adamant that based on those SOPs, the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) had won the elections by a margin of more than 15,000 votes.

Jagdeo in his missive called on the Chairperson to resume the verification process in accordance with the provisions of the law, voluntarily and without prejudice to the pending proceedings.

GECOM Chair Retired Justice Claudette Singh

Justice Singh responded by saying, however, that the matter in light of the court proceedings is sub judice and that the Commission will have to await the outcome of the litigation before taking its next step.

She has now written to the representatives of the parties at the level of the Commission to inform them of the expected compromised position following a ruling by the Chief Justice.

UK Foreign Secretary calls on Granger to preserve principles of free, fair, credible elections in Guyana …as UN also expresses concern about tabulation ruse

T

he United Kingdom is the latest foreign government to come out swinging at the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition in relation to the credibility of the March 2 General and Regional Elections.

UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab called on President David Granger to preserve the sanctity of democratic elections.

“We call upon the President to preserve the principle of free, fair and credible elections. Allegations of electoral fraud and premature declarations of victory prior to the completion of a credible process pose a grave threat to the democratic principles of Guyana. We call upon President Granger to ensure that proper procedures are followed before embarking upon a transition of government,” Raab said.

He added that the UK is deeply concerned about the events following the elections in Guyana and that his government stands ready to offer assistance to ensure a credible election result is produced.

UN expresses concern

Meanwhile, Stéphane Dujarric – Spokesperson for United Nations— and Secretary-General António Guterres said that they are following the issue in Guyana and called for calm and restraint when addressing issues arising from the process.

“Turning to Guyana, I can tell you we are following with concern the latest developments there, particularly the allegations that the tabulation of votes from one of the regions, namely Region 4, was not done according to proper legal procedures. We take note of the statements is-

Spokesperson for United Nations Secretary General, Stéphane Dujarric

sued by international observers and ambassadors accredited in Georgetown also raising concerns over the situation.

We call on all Guyanese to remain calm, exercise restraint and address any disputes arising from the process through legal channels,” Dujarric said.

Raab and the UN Secretary-General’s Office join a long line of foreign powers who have weighed in on the current electoral issues in Guyana.

On Monday, Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo announced that he discussed Guyana’s elections during a meeting with Canada’s Deputy Prime Minister, Chrystia Freeland.

In a tweet, Pompeo said he spoke about several issues including “support for democratic transition in Guyana”.

“Spoke today [Monday] with Canadian Deputy Prime Minister @CAFreeland [Chrystia Freeland] to discuss the crisis in #Venezuela, the COVID-19 outbreak, support for democratic transition in Guyana, and the importance of continued strong @OAS_ Official leadership on democracy and human rights,” Pompeo said on his Twitter account.

Pompeo’s statements

come on the heels of increased pressure from the international community to have the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) completely verify the Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) results before any declaration is made.

Along with Pompeo, several other US officials have commented on the issue. Acting Assistant Secretary for the US Department of State’s Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, Michael Kozak on Saturday last contended that Guyanese deserve a credible election.

Another US official, Tom Suozzi, who is a representative of New York’s 3rd Congressional District, which includes parts of Queens – where a large number of Guyanese are – also condemned the action by GECOM. The ABCE diplomatic representatives of the international community have made it clear in a joint statement issued by British High Commissioner Gregory Quinn, United States Ambassador Sarah-Ann Lynch, Canadian High Commissioner Lilian Chatterjee and European Union Ambassador Fernando Ponz-Canto that GECOM must complete the process.

In their statement, the group noted that based on their observation of GECOM proceedings at the Region Four office and the fact that the full count was not completed, they questioned the credibility of the Region Four results.

Caricom, as well as individual regional leaders – including the Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines, Ralph Gonsalves and Prime Minister of Antigua, Gaston Browne— have weighed in on

the situation, calling for the resumption of the verification process.

The western democracies’ sentiments were in sync with the local business community which insisted that the electoral process that undergirds democratic governance should not be subverted. Caricom, Organisation of American States, Commonwealth, France and Norway were among numerous groupings which called for the complete verification of the Region Four results.

The Private Sector Commission (PSC) also made it clear that they are appalled at GECOM’s attempts to trample on the statutory process. The Commission also

UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab

noted that GECOM’s actions are occurring under the watch of the Chairperson, Retired Justice Claudette Singh.

On the evening of March 5, Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield had committed to having the verification process run throughout the night until completion. However, this was never done, which was a clear violation of the law.

An injunction was sought and granted to former Attorney General Anil Nandlall after the Returning Officer for Region Four, Clairmont Mingo, attempted to declare unverified results for District Four from the General and Regional Elections.

Mingo, however, secretly declared the results – to the surprise of the main political Opposition, smaller political parties, elections observer missions, and the wider international community. The matter is currently before the court with acting Chief Justice Roxane George slated to deliver her judgement at 14:00h today.

Editor’s Note: Guyana Times will be providing live coverage of the ruling from 14:00h, so please follow us on our Facebook Page – Guyana Times.

8 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

“Choka Dhall” jailed for 18 years for killing fisherman

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orty-five-year-old Sharief Bacchus, who is accused of stabbing a Chinese national to death during an altercation at the Meadow Bank Wharf, Georgetown in 2017, was arraigned for the offence at the Demerara High Court on Tuesday.

Bacchus, also called “Choka Dhall”, formerly of Albouystown, Georgetown, opted to plead guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter. The indictment detailed that on July 20, 2017, he unlawfully killed 42-year-old Chan Wen Wong, called “Chiney Man”,

of Lot 14 Seaforth Street, Campbellville, Georgetown.

“Chiney Man” was a former chef at a city restaurant and later became a fisherman; he was plying his trade at the Meadow Bank Wharf at the time he was killed.

Based on reports, the now dead man and the accused, both fishermen, were involved in a heated argument which quickly escalated into an altercation.

Other fishermen in the area parted the combatants, and Wong opted to walk away from his adversary.

However, when he

Sharief Bacchus, called “Choka Dhall”

was some distance away, Bacchus ran after him, whipped out a sharp object and dealt him one blow to his chest before making good his escape.

The injured Wong reportedly fell to the ground, but was picked up and rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Justice Sandil Kissoon, who heard the matter, accepted the guilty plea of the now convicted man and thereby sentenced him to 18 years in prison for the offence.

Nightclub shooting

Taxi driver lands on remand for robbing victim

T

hirty-one-year-old Nicholas Chow was on Tuesday remanded to prison for allegedly robbing a man, who was shot during a row at the Blue Martini Night Club on March 1.

Chow, of Lot 254 Freeman Street, East La Penitence, Georgetown, pleaded not guilty to the charge, which read that on February 28 at Lamaha and De Abreu Streets, Newtown, Georgetown, while being in

the company of others and armed with a gun, he robbed Neil Dutchin of $500,000, a cellular phone valued $20,000 and a knife valued $500.

According to the prosecution’s case, Dutchin was at a bar located on the ground floor of the city nightclub hanging out with his friends when he subsequently got into an argument with Chow, who allegedly sat on his stool. It

was heard that the defendant left the bar for a short while and returned with two men who were armed with guns. Chow’s two accomplices then approached the victim and shot twice after which they relieved him of the articles mentioned in the charge.

An injured Dutchin was picked up and rushed to a private city hospital where he remains a patient.

Objections were made

to bail being granted to the defendant on the grounds that the victim is still hospitalised. The court further heard that the defendant was previously charged for a similar offence.

It was also heard that Chow’s accomplices are still being sought by the police As such, Chief Magistrate Ann Mclennan upheld the prosecution’s submission and remanded the defendant to prison until March 25.

hone 11 valued at $260,000, property of Rhonda Harry, a businesswoman.

According to facts presented, the Virtual Complainant visited her clothing boutique to do some cleaning and, in the process, placed her valuables on a table.

The court heard that sometime after, Cush

walked into the store and started to check the clothing on display. It was while doing this, Cush spotted the phone, picked up same and left immediately.

When Harry discovered her phone missing, a police report was made and footage from the store’s ClosedCircuit Television (CCTV) was reviewed by police officers. The video surveillance showed Cush removing the phone.

On March 6, officers managed to apprehend Cush while he was hanging out

with friends on High Street, Georgetown. While in custody the man admitted to stealing the phone and selling it. In a plea of mitigation, the unrepresented man told the court that he was under the influence of alcohol when he committed the act, and begged the court for a second chance.

However, the Chief Magistrate pointed out to Cush that there are consequences for his actions and therefore sentenced him to 18 months in jail.

Excavator operator jailed for stealing businesswoman’s phone

C

hief Magistrate Ann McLennan on Tuesday jailed a 53-year-old excavator operator for 18 months when he appeared before her and admitted to a theft charge.

Philbert Cush of Lot 14 Broad Street, Georgetown, admitted that on February 26, 2020, at Robb Street, Georgetown, he stole one iP-

The big fake…

I

…exposed f there’s anyone who’d been taken in by caretaker Granger’s milquetoast routine – you know…always in the “right” but “wrongfully” misunderstood and taken advantage of – the chicanery betrayed in his last “address” on the elections should’ve certainly made the scales fall from their eyes!! Like most con men, Granger’s fatal flaw is he didn’t know when to stop with the BS. This time, he laid it on so thick, you could HEAR it falling off and plopping on the floor.

Your Eyewitness will hold up his latest excretions to the light and be warned, it ain’t gonna be pretty!!

Noting the delay with the elections, Granger claimed sanctimoniously, “I assure the nation that, at all times, I have acted in accordance with the Constitution and Laws of Guyana.” Well, isn’t this his long-repressed conscience (and now vestigial) conscience talking?? We all know he’s been breaking the Constitution worse than a bull in a china shop…but who accused him this time??

Nobody, that’s who! Because everyone and their demented uncle know it’s not the Constitution that’s being raped and violated but a statute – The Representation of the People’s Act!! Granger, as he always does, created a straw man to flagellate!! His next unctuous claim was: “GECOM is an independent constitutional agency over which I and the Executive have no control. I assure you, that as President, I cannot, did not and will not interfere in the work of GECOM”.

GECOM independent?? ROTFL!! So why Granger spent a year in the counts insisting that his unilateral appointment of James Patterson must stand?? And had to be bitch-slapped by the CCJ for violating the Constitution?? And how come his de facto second in command and Director of the Presidency revealed that he was called directly by individuals at the GECOM Command Centre after the Reg 4 SOP tabulation was abandoned??

That’s a smoking gun, baby!!

Then came the whopper of the year: “The Opposition created an atmosphere of intimidation and fear at the office of the Returning Officer of District Number 4. This led to the interruption of GECOM’s work.” Really?? Was there any “intimidation” Tuesday night when the RO claimed staff “tiredness” and called it a night? Didn’t RO Mingo claim “illness” on Wednesday – when the process was supposed to be restarted – and had to be hospitalised?? For a few hours??? Didn’t the CEO promise the Observers and stakeholders, the tabulation would continue the next morning but never did??

Whatever ruckus occurred was when the RO suddenly appeared like Banquo’s ghost on a balcony and shouted to the waiting stakeholders that he’d declared the results!!

Without the counting process being restarted.

Granger’s faker than a $3 dollar bill!! …and bullyism In addition to his hypocrisy and unctuousness, Granger’s a bully beneath the simpering façade. Let’s call a spade, a spade, Dear Readers: the only reason he can be so complacent and confident about facing down domestic and foreign pressure is that he’s counting on the “kith and kin” effect from the Army, Police, Militia, Civil Service – and when he needs them— the “centipedes” of Georgetown.

But he’s dealing with a different Guyana. While the carefully crafted and disseminated vicious propaganda he and the PNC’s been spewing for years about the PPP “killing 400 black youths” – the numbers from the elections show that the PPP made inroads into the PNC’s traditional constituency!! Not to mention the Amerindian and the mixed voters, which are now fully 30% of the electorate!!

The PNC’s propaganda – which is now virtually all “hate speech” – has clearly been rejected by a wide swathe of voters who’ve seen through their crude and crass manipulation. Unfortunately, there are still enough who have been infected by Granger’s virus of hate.

Beware the cornered rat!! …on elections petition The PNC’s insisting the PPP abandon their present efforts in the courts to have the SOP count resume and file an election petition after accepting Mingo’s count!!

As if the PPP will forget their 2015 election petition still hasn’t been heard!!

Readers are invited to send their comments by email to eye@guyanatimesgy.com

NEWS

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

PPP takes Nagamootoo to ERC over racist charges …says PM intended to incite strife, animosity among people

T

he People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has signalled an intention to file a formal complaint with the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) against former Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo over the provocative language used in a public statement issued on Tuesday by him.

As such, Executive Secretary for the PPP, Zulfikar Mustapha, has since intoned that the international community should

view Nagamootoo’s statement as intended to “incite racial strife and animosity among our people”.

Mustapha has since posited that the complaint against Nagamootoo would be “for inciting racial division by spreading inflammatory rumours”.

He was adamant that “blame for any incident, following such a reckless statement, will be laid squarely at the door of Nagamootoo and his cronies in the APNU/ AFC coalition”.

Mustapha in a subsequent missive to the media yesterday said Nagamootoo’s talk about an “insurrectionary and bloody plan to shut down the country does nothing for our country or our people at this time, except to incite”.

According to Mustapha, “his (Nagamootoo) statement must be roundly condemned by all”.

It was noted that “Nagamootoo’s hypocrisy in claiming concern for Guyana and the Guyanese

Jamaica confirms 1st imported case of COVID-19

…avoid coronavirus panic buying – PM

Jamaica Prime Minister Andrew Holness

J

amaica on Tuesday confirmed its first imported case of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Kingston.

Below is the statement from Minister of Health and Wellness Dr Christopher Tufton regarding the patient: The patient is a Jamaican female who had travelled from the United Kingdom, which has cases of COVID-19. She arrived on the island on March 4, presented to the public health system on March 9, and has been in isolation since then.

Based on the patient’s travel history and symptoms, health professionals suspected COVID-19. A clinical sample was collected and sent to the National

Influenza Centre, where laboratory tests confirmed the diagnosis today at approximately 11:00 am. The patient and family members have been informed.

The patient’s infection was travel-related.

However, steps are being taken to prevent the risk of community spread.

These measures include the dispatch of a health team to the home of the patient for assessment and initiation of public health measures. The identification and contact tracing for all possible exposed persons.

Meeting of ministry officials with members of staff at the hospital and the necessary interventions put in place.

Moreover, Prime Minister Andrew Holness is

urging the public not to embark on panic buying with the discovery of a case of the novel coronavirus on the island.

Holness made the declaration on Monday at Progressive Grocers’ 20th Anniversary Banquet at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston before Jamaica confirmed its first case of COVID-19.

The Prime Minister said he has been assured by players in the retail industry that there will be an adequate amount of supplies available and that prices will remain stable.

“Many of you would be seeing videos circulating of panic buying and empty shelves. I want to take this opportunity to say to our Jamaican consumers, that there should be no need for panic buying,” he said.

He noted that retailers and suppliers have a vital role to play in ensuring general stability in the economy given the current situation global threat that could disrupt supply chains.

“It is important that we recognise the critical role that the distributive trade will play in any disruptive crisis that may affect Jamaica, in ensuring that all hotels are stocked and that our consumers can get access to critical supplies,” he noted. (Excerpts from Jamaica Observer)

Former Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo

people is exposed when he pontificates about plans to destabilise the country without any solid evidence, even as his own actions risk doing exactly that”.

Nagamootoo, in his

statement to the media earlier in the day, alleged that a plan had been hatched by the PPP through a front group with plans aimed at isolating and starving the people of Georgetown—the

Capital City—which comprises the single largest section of Guyana’s mainly Afro-Guyanese population.

He charges that it is clear that the seditious exercise is to destabilise the country and to promote an armed and racist insurrection in Guyana.

The PPP is contending, however, that anyone with information on any illegalities, or plans to commit an illegality, should take that information to law enforcement authorities.

Mustapha said it would seem that the AFC members have to ‘work for their keep’, given that the comments, ranging from ridiculous to dangerous, seem to be the domain of the junior partner in the coalition.

10 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Caricom Chair to arrive in Guyana today ...leading team of regional leaders

Caricom Chair and Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Amor Mottley

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aricom Chair and Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Amor Mottley will lead a delegation of regional Prime Ministers on a special twoday mission to Guyana today.

Mottley, who was bestowed with Guyana’s highest national award, will be joined by Prime Ministers Roosevelt Skerrit of Dominica, Ralph Gonsalves of St Vincent and the Grenadines and Keith Mitchell of Grenada.

Mottley’s trip to Guyana was announced during a national address at the Hilton Barbados where the Social Partnership met to discuss COVID-19.

Meanwhile, the Caricom Secretariat in a statement said that in an effort to ease tension in the country and assist in arriving at a resolution of the impasse that resulted from last Monday’s General and Regional Elections, the delegation will meet with the leadership of all parties that contested the poll.

Additionally, the Caricom heads will meet with representatives of the Commonwealth, Organisation of American States, European Union and Carter Center observer missions that were in the country to monitor the conduct of the elections.

On Saturday, Mottley in a statement on the situation in Guyana insisted that the verification process of Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) tabulation must be completed in the presence of all political parties as well as the various electoral observers.

She reiterated appeals for the

Dominican PM Roosevelt Skerrit

Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to complete the electoral process, which was abandoned by the Region Four Returning Officer, who went ahead to illegally declare the results of the region on Thursday last without completing the verification process.

“The Caribbean Community calls on the electoral officials in Guyana and the representative political parties to work together to achieve a peaceful and lawful com-

St Vincent and the Grenadines PM Ralph Gonsalves

Grenada PM Keith Mitchell

pletion of the electoral process in Guyana by ensuring the tabulation of the results in all regions using the Statements of Poll in a transparent manner in the presence of the representatives of the political parties and the electoral observers,” the Caricom Chair said on Saturday.

She went on to say that Caricom, as well as the independent Elections Observer Missions (EOMs) that were deployed to

monitor the March 2 General and Regional Elections in Guyana, was very clear in its position that every vote must be made to count and transparently so.

PM Mottley said she is simply asking parties to recognise that the primary consideration must not only be who will be President but, more so, who will be alive come next week or next month, for there cannot be a tolerance for any further loss of life.

2 men wanted for Buxton teen, Berbice businessman’s murders

T

he Guyana Police Force has issued two bulletins for two men wanted for separate murders.

In the first instance, 25-year-old John France, of Lot 20 Section A Friendship, Buxton, East Coast Demerara (ECD), is wanted for the murder of Daniel Amore who was killed on March 1, 2020.

Amore was killed whilst trying to protect his mother from a knife and cutlass-wielding family member.

He was stabbed once to his chest by the suspect who

Murdered businessman: Lomenzo Johnny, called “Sham”

fled the scene. The injured teen was picked up by his relatives and rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) but was pronounced dead on arrival.

Meanwhile, Daniel McLennon, also called “Dutty”, of Lot 153 Third Street Swamp Section Rose Hall, Corentyne, Berbice, is also wanted for murder.

He is wanted for the murder of Lomenzo Johnny, who was killed between February 26 and 27 at Port Mourant, Corentyne, Berbice.

On the day in question, the body of 49-year-

Wanted: Daniel McLennon and John France

old Lomenzo Johnny, called “Sham”, of Lot 11 Portuguese Quarters, Corentyne, was discovered in a yard at Rose

Hall Town with his feet bound with a shoelace.

The sweater he was seen wearing on the evening be-

fore the discovery was found several feet away from the body.

A pair of scissors and a piece of wood were also close to the body. There was a wound to the back, bruises to his hand, and his head and face were swollen. Blood was flowing from his nose when the body was discovered.

Anyone with information that could lead to the arrest of these individuals is urged to make contact with Police on telephone numbers 2266978, 225-8196, 333-5564, 911 or the nearest Police station.

All information will be treated with the strictest confidence.

NEWS

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

City Hall advertises for Father jailed for 20 years solid waste contractors for killing son …current contract with Puran, Cevons expires in October

Solid waste collectors contracted under City Hall

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he Georgetown Mayor and City Council is advertising for proposals for solid waste contracting agencies although their current contract with Puran Brothers and Cevons Waste Management comes to an end in October.

At Tuesday’s statutory meeting, Mayor Ubraj Narine said, “the two contracts – Puran and Cevons – shall come [to] an end on October 5, 2020, which I open proposals from different agencies and persons to put forward. Not only Councillors but within Georgetown and out of Georgetown to see how we would be able to deal with the matter of solid waste.”

Over the years, City Hall has battled with its deficit budget to pay the solid waste contractors for services in Georgetown and its environs. On November 25, 2018, the collectors withdrew their services after

months of operating without payments. Immediately after the withdrawal, services were provided by five agencies namely: Granderson, Trash Tech, Tri Star, C&S Services and Garbage Eaters.

The deadlock between the Council and contractors had many implications on the collection process within the capital city as residential and commercial areas were piled high with garbage.

As such, both solid waste collectors met with Communities Minister, Ronald Bulkan and officials of the M&CC, where it was promised that payment would be made; putting an end to the unending saga between collectors and the cash-strapped Council.

Back in January 2019, Central Government had intervened to bail out City Hall of their debts by disbursing $100 million to the contractors. During that

time, the total owed amount was pegged at over $160 million. Limited services were provided within the capital city and its environs.

However, this was a temporary arrangement to assist the smaller contractors and did not interfere with their existing contract with the local organ body.

A ballpark figure of some $80 million was later paid to complete the payments of all debts owed.

Earlier last year, the Council had signalled intentions to implement a $100 fee for every barrel of garbage collected within Georgetown.

Later in May, Mayor Narine related that the fiveyear contract was examined during a meeting among officials of the Council and the collectors.

They were able to lower the monthly cost of these services from some $32 million to just over $14 million.

Dead: Satesh Kevin Sookdeo

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father, who fatally stabbed his 21-yearold son after he tried to save his mother from being abused, was on Tuesday handed a 20-year sentence for the unlawful killing of the young man.

Satesh Kevin Sookdeo, of Lot 217 Fifth Street, Foulis, East Coast Demerara (ECD), was stabbed to death during an argument with his father, 46-year-old Mohan “Wire” Sookdeo, in September of 2018.

It was reported that the now-convicted man and his wife were involved in an argument during which he grabbed her by the neck and

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Killed: Leonard La Rose

Further, during the trial, the court heard that La Rose and two other Police Officers were trying to arrest Marks

and, in the process, he whipped out a sharp object and attacked the Sergeant and his colleagues.

The now-dead man and his partners were rushed to the Matthews Ridge Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The two remaining ranks were treated for injuries to their hands and sent away.

The State was represented by prosecutors Tuanna Hardy, Tiffani Lyken and Nafeeza Baig, while Marks was represented by Attorney Rachael Bakker.

Justice Kissoon imposed a life sentence as he pointed out that such acts committed against law enforcement officers will not be tolerated.

Man gets 9 months for unlawful wounding

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lric Bennett will spend the next nine months in prison after he was found guilty on two counts of unlawful wounding.

Bennett, who appeared before Magistrate Dylon Bess at the Linden Magistrate’s Court, pleaded

guilty to both charges.

Police stated that on March 4, 2020, at Andyville, Squatting Area, Wismar, Linden, Bennett unlawfully and maliciously wounded Collene Bennett.

He was also accused of unlawfully wounding Reyola Bennett on the same day at

the same location.

Bennett was sentenced to six months imprisonment for the first count of unlawful and malicious wounding and three months for the unlawful wounding of the second Virtual Complainant.

The sentences will run concurrently.

began choking her.

Upon seeing this, the now-dead young man and another sibling intervened, but this angered the father more, who subsequently broke a louvre pane and stabbed the youngster to his chest.

Neighbours rushed to the family’s aid after hearing screams but by then, it was too late since the younger Sookdeo had already succumbed to the stab wounds.

A Post-Mortem Examination performed on his body proved that he died from perforation to the lung as a result of the stab wound to his chest.

The older Sookdeo ap-

peared before Justice Sandil Kissoon at the Demerara High Court, where he pleaded guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter but was initially charged with the capital offence of murder.

The charge read that on September 8, 2018, at Foulis, ECD, he unlawfully killed his son, Satesh Kevin Sookdeo.

Attorney-at-Law Maxwell McKay represented the convict, while prosecutor Tuanna hardy represented the State.

Justice Kissoon, after handing down the sentence, ordered that the time Sookdeo spent on remand be deducted.

Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.

The court heard that on Thursday, August 1, 2019, Perriera, who hails from Lot 25 Chombley Hill, Wismar, Linden, made use of threatening language towards Shonette Sansculotte, resulting in a breach of the peace.

He was sentenced to six months imprisonment for this offence and an additional 6 months on the threatening behaviour charge. The sentences will run consecutively; however, the sentence commenced from the time of his incarceration on August 8, 2019.

Lindener jailed for 12 months for threatening behaviour, abusive language

Cop killer gets life imprisonment L t the conclusion of the trial into the murder of Police Sergeant Leonard La Rose, the accused, 36-year-old Dennis Marks, was found guilty of manslaughter.

He was accused of unlawfully killing La Rose on March 1, 2016, at Matthews Ridge. The charge was reread to the accused on Tuesday by Justice Sandil Kissoon when he made his appearance at the High Court.

It was reported that the victim was stabbed to death in Matthews Ridge, Region One (Barima-Waini) while attempting to arrest the suspect, who was convicted on a rape charge.

Jailed for killing son: Mohan “Wire” Sookdeo

indener Michael Perriera was sentenced to 12 months behind bars after he was found guilty of threatening behaviour and making use of abusive language.

The sentence was handed down by Magistrate Dylon Bess at the Linden

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

14 NEWS UGSS calls for extension Driver in hit-and-run accident released on bail of semester break WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

…amid political tension

The University of Guyana, Turkeyen Campus

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he University of Guyana Students’ Society (UGSS) has petitioned for an increase in their semester break, amid the current political tension embroiling the country.

The student body noted in a statement that security has been a factor of paramount concern, as many have chosen to relocate to another location. As such, an extended break would afford persons enough time to establish proper mechanisms. They are calling for an additional week, until next Monday.

“We know these past few days have been uncomfortable for you all. Same goes for us. Some of us have been made to switch our locations due to security concerns for ourselves and our family…

Secondly, let this not be known as an extension to a semester break, but rather, the University closing down for a week so as to have proper and better systems

in place where the security concerns of us all, can be guaranteed,” UGSS stated.

In sharing their motive for this request, the student organ said that campus should be closed until next week, owing to transportation constraints. While that may be the issue for many, those travelling from Berbice have shown fear amid protest actions across the region.

“Let us vehemently state, we strongly disagree with any suggestion that school be reopened as per normal for the coming week.

There has been, to us, little to no real assessment of the transportation burden that our current political climate has imposed on our students…A vast majority of our students (over 1000) comes from linden alone!

Those who are coming from the Region Three area will now find it difficult to travel also as most buses have stopped working,” the state-

ment indicated.

Concerned about security on the streets, UGSS indicated that the campuses at Turkeyen and Tain are vulnerable to attacks.

In recent time, violent protests have erupted throughout the streets in close proximity to the Turkeyen, East Coast Demerara base, and the situation escalated a few days ago in Berbice.

Our campuses alone, based on security provided, can be deemed vulnerable to many attacks. Who can guarantee our safety in this regard? Peaceful protests have now turned violent, leaving one dead and a few injured so far. Should persons in the Cummings Lodge and Industry decide to join the wave of protesters, our Campus at Turkeyen becomes a haven. Berbice campuses have already become virtually impossible to think to go,” the student body posited.

Adding to that, students have indicated that there has been some psychological impact from the events which unfolded post-elections.

“We all have been burden by this electoral process. We have had to endure long hours of attention span to the different forms of media for updates.

Notwithstanding that, our every move is burdened by the thought of what can happen should we do this.

Studying has seemingly become even harder. Let us not forget, some of our students are even working on class assignments given to them by varying lectures,” the UGSS statement read.

Dead: Shawn Smith

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he driver who is believed to be responsible for the Corentyne, Berbice accident which occurred last Saturday that left a motorcyclist dead was on Tuesday released on $300,000 bail when he appeared before a Berbice Magistrate.

Trevor Narain of Lot 55 Whim Village appeared before Magistrate Alex Moore at the Springlands court and pleaded not guilty to three charges.

It is alleged that on March 7, at Letter Kenny, the 40-year-old man failed to render assistance after an accident. He also failed to stop after an accident and failed to report an accident.

Narain was placed on

Accused: Trevor Narain at the Springlands Magistrate's Court on Tuesday

$100,000 bail on each of the charges and will have to return to court on April 28. The matter has been transferred to the Whim Magistrate’s Court.

Police Prosecutor Inspector Orin Joseph told the court that the police are in the process of preparing a file to institute a causing death by dangerous driving charge against Narain.

He said that the post-mortem examination was only completed on Tuesday morning by Dr Nehaul Singh. Dr Singh gave the cause of death as multiple injuries consistent with that of a motor vehicle accident.

Last Saturday, a motorcyclist, 25-year-old Shawn Smith of Lot 17 Fingal Street, Rose Hall Town, was discovered in an unconscious state at about 23:00h with injuries to his face and body. He was taken to the Port Mourant Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries while receiving medical attention.

Joseph told the court that the investigation into the death of Smith is ongoing.

Meanwhile, as a condition for bail, Narain has been ordered to lodge his passport with the court and to report twice weekly at Whim Police Station until the completion of the case.

CJ to rule whether RO’s...

In response, the Guyanese Senior Counsel pointed out that while this was not stated “expressly” in Mingo’s affidavit, “we will have to accept the presumption of regularity… I think he should have said so expressly [in his affidavit] but the fact that he has not said so expressly, doesn’t nullify the fact that he did not do it.”

But in rebuttal, SC Mendes pointed out that the “presumption of regularity” was already addressed by the RO when he indicated that he counting was done by the senior clerk.

“He inherently told us exactly what happened and he made it very clear that… the adding up from the Statements of Poll was done in his absence by Ms Miller and other clerks. He has said that clearly and there is no room for presumption of regularity no more,” he contended.

“Substantial compliance”

Moreover, the Trinidadian SC further addressed the issue of “substantial compliance” which was raised by Boston to claim that RO Mingo had

complied with the statute to make a valid declaration of the results.

SC Boston had argued that even if the RO had left Miller in charge and was absent for a period of time, he can still take it upon himself to declare the results because he had the figures from his SOPs The Chief Justice (ag) then pointed out that there were more than half of the SOPs left to be done [421 were dealt with and 458 yet to verified] and this could not possibly constitute “substantial performance”.

“It doesn’t matter,” SC Boston contended, adding that it was a mischaracterisation of what substantial performance is.

“Substantial performance has to do with his acts in moving the process forward…,” he noted.

According to the Guyanese SC, the recount provision catered for any discrepancies to be dealt with.

But SC Mendes rebutted that this could be arguable if it were about 90 per cent of the SOPs completed under Mingo’s direct involvement.

FROM PAGE 3

“…But not with less than 50 per cent compliance, My Lady, with something as important as this. That cannot be substantial performance,” the Trinidadian SC insisted.

The question that remained to be answered was, even if it is accepted that the votes were tabulated by the RO, whether he complied with the requirement that this be done in the presence of the relevant stakeholders so as to comply with Sec 84 (1) of the Representation of the People’s Act. The CJ’s ruling today will determine how the Elections Commission proceeds in declaring the final results of the March 2020 General and Regional Elections in Guyana.

Abusive APNU/AFC supporters

Meanwhile, APNU/AFC supporters who were outside the court beyond the police barricades hurled expletives and insults towards the international observers as they exited the court.

The abusive behaviour was also meted out against the foreign press as they left the court on Tuesday.

NEWS

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Coronavirus: Troops sent to New York coronavirus The real crime is that GECOM, APNU/AFC stole people’s deaths jump ‘containment zone’

Ramsammy’s Ruminations Italian

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votes – not the protesters

t happened in plain sight, in front of the world. GECOM, directed

by David Granger’s APNU/AFC rigged the results for all the world to see. They literally stole the votes of more than 400,000 Guyanese. Their method was crude and barefaced. For the foreigner’s present, both international observers and members of the Diplomatic Corp, they were told beforehand they should leave the country. The crime of electoral fraud was committed in front of everyone. The PPP and the small political parties were present and expressed their outrage. The foreigners did the same. Now the court is involved.

The vast majority of the Guyanese people, more than the 50% who voted for the PPP Dr Leslie Ramsammy in the March 2, 2020, general elections, feel cheated, know that they were cheated and refuse to be silent. There are thousands of others who voted for other parties who know and agree that the cheating was barefaced and done in plain sight. The PPP leaders have asked people to be calm, to stay home. The General Secretary, the Presidential Candidate and the Prime Minister candidate have all issued statements and video messages asking for calm and patience.

Other PPP leaders are visiting people in their communities begging them to remain calm and stay home, asking them to trust the PPP leadership to carry on the fight in the corridors of power, in Guyana and outside of Guyana.

The PPP leaders have engaged different sectors of the Guyanese population, the diplomatic Corp, local and international observers, UN organisations, international governments to pressure David Granger and APNU/AFC and GECOM to respect the law and respect the results of the March 2, 2020 elections. The PPP leaders continue to harbour the hope that the time for peaceful protests against the stealing of the elections never comes. They have made it clear that not now and not anytime to come will they support violent protests. The people who are aggrieved, outside of a few hours on Wednesday, have taken the advice of the PPP and are staying home, trusting their leaders the fight is not over, the PPP won and that sooner than later, electoral victory will be honoured.

People across Guyana have expressed disgust that the barefaced thieving of the elections is happening in the full view of the Guyanese people and the world. It turns out even many people who voted for David Granger and APNU/AFC are equally disgusted. Some have taken to different forums, including letter columns to express their utter disgust. But some people have taken to spontaneous protest. While many of these people who participated in the Wednesday protest have been peaceful, in some instances, the protest involved blocking roads and burning tires on the road. Not surprisingly, these spontaneous protests led to confrontations with other groups and with Police.

I am disappointed that these protests have seen instances of violence. In fact, in one case, a young man has been shot to death by the Police. Guyana has another martyr. No one wants violence and no one wants to see other Guyanese being affected by these protests. No one wants these protests to become another platform for ethnic polarisation.

For those who have decided to don their sanctimonious garb and condemn those people who protested on Wednesday, it is their right to condemn citizens for the violence that took place. It is our country and we all want a peaceful, tranquil country. But I note, not once, these same sanctimonious, self-righteous people point their fingers to the real cause, the root cause of the tension that arose.

Make no mistake, at this very moment, Guyana is peaceful, but not tranquil. The tension is bursting at the seam. Innocent, ordinary citizens know they were cheated and that they were brazenly cheated. They were cheated by those who have the responsibility to guarantee the people their right. The protectors have become the oppressors. But those who put on their sanctimonious garb and pointed fingers on the protesters ignored that a major crime has been committed against these people. Not once have they acknowledged that fact. Instead, they point their fingers at the leaders of the political party whose victory is being taken away by electoral fraud. Those leaders are the ones who have calmed their supporters, but cannot take away the tension that exists.

While I understand the condemnation of violence and even accept leaders must work assiduously to keep the peace, few of these persons who condemn the protesters have acknowledged that the protesters have legitimate reasons to be outraged. They were cheated— there is no dispute about that. David Granger and APNU/AFC naturally dispute this fact. But they also know that these people know the truth – that the elections were stolen. Older folks have seen this kind of rigging before. Now an entirely new generation is seeing it in front of their eyes. The DNA of the PNC is exposed for everyone to see.

I am awaiting the same alacrity, the same impatience, the same condemnation of those perpetuating a crime. GECOM is guilty, there is no “ands, ifs and buts”. APNU/AFC is guilty, there is no “ands, ifs and buts”. It is not the PPP that has said so, it is the whole world. When will these sanctimonious people condemn GECOM and APNU/AFC and David Granger?

36% to 631

A man, wearing a protective face mask, rides a hoverboard, after a decree orders for the whole of Italy to be on lockdown in an unprecedented clampdown aimed at beating the coronavirus, in Milan, Italy March 10, 2020 (REUTERS/Flavio Lo Scalzo)

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he death toll from an outbreak of coronavirus in Italy has jumped by 168 to 631, an increase of 36%, the Civil Protection Agency said on Tuesday, the largest rise in absolute numbers since the contagion came to light on Feb. 21.

The total number of cases in Italy, the European coun-

try hardest hit by the virus in Europe, rose to 10,149 from a previous 9,172, an increase of 10.7%.

The head of the agency said that, of those originally infected, 1,004 had fully recovered compared to 724 the day before. Some 877 people were in intensive care against a previous 733.

(Reuters)

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ew York Governor Andrew Cuomo has announced a onemile (1.6km) coronavirus “containment zone” around a town north of New York City.

New Rochelle has seen “probably the largest cluster” of US cases, he said.

National Guard troops will be used to clean schools in the town and deliver food to any quarantined individuals.

The death toll in Italy, one of the countries worst hit by the virus, rose to 631 as the authorities placed the whole country in lockdown.

The latest increase in deaths in Italy - 168 - is the biggest the country has recorded in a single day, and the total number of cases went from 9,172 to 10,149.

China, where the virus was first detected, has seen a total of 80,754 confirmed cases, with 3,136 deaths.

New York state has 173 active cases, the most in the US, and 108 of them are in Westchester County, where New Rochelle is located.

New York City, 25 miles (40km) south of New Rochelle, has 36 confirmed cases of the virus in its population of eight million people. Cuomo said there would be no travel restrictions in New Rochelle (population 77,000) but large meeting points in the area would be

closed.

Schools, gathering places and businesses in the virus hot spot will be closed for two weeks.

Officials will also set up a coronavirus testing facility at a local hospital.

“It is a dramatic action but it is the largest cluster in the country and this is literally a matter of life and death,” Cuomo said, adding that numbers of cases were “going up unabated” in New Rochelle.

“You’re not containing people. You’re containing facilities.” A synagogue is at the centre of the New Rochelle outbreak, local media report.

A man in his 50s who attended religious services is believed to be “patient zero” in the region. Around 1,000 people associated with the temple are now under quarantine. Economists say the coronavirus outbreak presents the greatest risk to the US economy in more than a decade, but for now it is not clear whether the tools being mobilised are up to the task.

Spurred on by plunging financial markets, the president has promised relief, proposing a payroll tax cut which would reduce the amount of money deducted from worker pay cheques to pay for social programmes.

(BBC)

Police ranks injured in standoff with pro-democracy protesters recuperating shot and killed at Cotton Tree. He was accused of chopping Sergeant Ibaran and Constable Fraser but as

Injured: Sergeant Punit Nuth Ibaran

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everal ranks of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) who were injured during pro-democracy protest on Friday last are recuperating speedily.

On Monday, Executives of the Guyana Police Association headed by its Chairman, Inspector Rose Ann Forde, visited the ranks and offered moral support while urging them to be strong.

She noted that the Force will give the necessary assistance and guidance required, especially at this time.

The ranks were previously visited by several Senior Officers including Deputy Commissioner -Operations Maxine Graham, DSM, Commanders of Regional Police Divisions Five and

Six, Superintendent Yonette Stephens and Senior Superintendent Calvin Brutus, and also the Force’s Welfare Officer, Deputy Superintendent Jewel Hayles-Sullivan.

However, Sergeant Punit Nuth Ibaran, who is the only hospitalised rank, will undergo a Computerised Tomography (CT) scan today and he is expected to undergo a surgery for one his arms, which is severely wounded.

Those discharged are required to make regular medical check-ups and are said to be receiving counselling from members of the Cops and Faith Community Network.

Meanwhile, during the said protests, 18-year-old Seedat “Devon” Hansraj was

he continued his attack, he was shot once by other ranks who arrived at the scene.

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guyanatimesgy.com

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2020

Regional

Venezuelan Riot Police stop Opposition Jamaica: Company launches fund to help march on congress with teargas find missing UWI student

Venezuela’s National Assembly President and Opposition Leader Juan Guaido, who many nations have recognised as the country’s rightful interim ruler, raises an arm as he takes part in a demonstration in Caracas, Venezuela

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enezuelan security forces used teargas on Tuesday to stop protesters led by Opposition Leader Juan Guaido from marching on the national legislature, which pro-Government lawmakers seized control of in January.

The march, attended by several thousand opposition demonstrators,

advanced only a few blocks towards the congress in downtown Caracas before a phalanx of Riot Police barricaded the road and began firing teargas to disperse the crowd.

“It once again demonstrates the totalitarian nature of this regime,” said lawmaker and Guaido supporter Williams Davila, his face and eyes red

from the teargas.

Opposition legislators later held an extramural session in the fashionable Las Mercedes district nearby, setting up chairs on the neighbourhood’s main avenue and hanging a large Venezuelan flag as a backdrop.

“We are a powerful majority that can change this country,” said Guaido during the session. “The dictatorship thinks it can take us on, that it can keep us quiet.”

Guaido for weeks had urged Venezuelans to join the march as a way of reviving street protests against the Government of President Nicolas Maduro, who Washington has sought to oust through economic sanctions.

The protests surged in 2019 but have waned as the ruling Socialist Party has clung to power.

Tuesday’s march was the opposition’s first since Guaido returned on February 11 from a diplomatic tour that included a meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House. It marked another test of Guaido’s capacity to mobilise supporters, who are increasingly weary with his inability to oust Maduro despite a broad US sanctions programme and Venezuela’s long-running economic crisis. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Brazil lawmaker proposes cutting off hands of corrupt politicians

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lawmaker who says Brazil is not doing enough to fight rampant political corruption put forward a bill on Tuesday that would punish any politician convicted of graft with amputation of both hands.

The legislative proposal is not expected to advance in Brazil’s Congress, where dozens of lawmakers are un-

der investigation for corruption and money laundering.

Congressman Emerson Petriv, better known by his political name Boca Aberta, said such a drastic measure was needed in a country fed up with widespread corruption committed with impunity.

“It is a shocking bill, but unfortunately a majority

of politicians steal taxpayers’ money,” he said by telephone. In Arab nations, nobody steals anything for fear of having their hand cut off, he added.

Petriv said there was public support for his proposal, but to get approved the bill would need the backing of lawmakers who have not been caught robbing.

Brazil has jailed dozens of businessmen and politicians in the country’s biggest ever corruption scandal known as the “Car Wash” investigation, but many have since been freed, including former leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva who was convicted of receiving bribes. (Excerpt from Reuters)

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People attend a protest march combined with concerts in Medellin, Colombia

ately, advocacy group HRW said.

“We have gathered worrying accounts and evidence of abuses by Colombia’s Police, including arbitrary detention and brutal beatings against peaceful protesters, detainees, and bystanders,” said Jose Miguel Vivanco, Americas director at Human Rights Watch said in a statement.

“President Duque should

Dean went missing last month

nation to the Jasmine Fund that we have set up,” Peart said.

Noting that the offering is a reward for information on her whereabouts, the Blue Dot CEO said the aim is to raise $1 million.

Following a tweet on Sunday, he said they have raised $350,000 so far.

At the same time, Peart explained that the remaining balance, as well as additional monies raised, will be used to place advertisements on multiple platforms about the visually impaired student’s disappearance and the reward for information. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

Chile robbery: Armed gang steals $15M from Santiago airport

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send a clear message that these violations will not be tolerated.”

HRW said it interviewed 26 victims of Police abuse and met with officials to discuss the cases.

The head of the National Police, General Oscar Atehortua, confirmed he met with Vivanco. Many accusations of police abuse were made by people who had attacked officers and were arrested, he added. (Excerpt from Reuters)

olice in Chile are searching for members of an armed gang who stole a cash shipment worth about $15M from a warehouse at Santiago airport.

At least seven men entered the cargo area of the airport were the cash was stored and forced the security guards to hand the money over at gunpoint.

They used two vehicles, one painted in the colours and with the logo of courier company DHL. Police say they suspect the gang had “inside information”.

The cash shipment of dollars and euros had arrived from abroad shortly before

the robbery and was due to be taken to banks in Chile.

An airport security guard was injured after receiving a blow to the head.

One of the vans used in the robbery was later found abandoned and partially burnt. Police said it did not belong to the courier company DHL but had been painted to look like it did.

It is not the first time a multi-million dollar sum has been stolen from the Arturo Merino Benítez airport. In 2014, a gang of nine men stole a cash shipment worth $10M. Following that robbery, the airport security chief at the time was sacked.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

of an Immigration officer.

When they appeared in court recently, they pleaded guilty to the charge and were fined US$300 each, or in default, serve one-year imprisonment at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.

The accused paid their fine and were turned over to the custody of the Immigration Department for deportation.

Meanwhile, in a separate matter, Colombian national Elizabeth Cristina Bolivar, 37, and Peruvian national Ana Jurez Loayza, 35, were also charged with overstaying.

It is alleged that the women were found at a resort on March 3 after the expiration of the period of time granted to them by an Immigration officer. They both overstayed their visi-

tor’s status by 91 days.

Both pleaded guilty to the charge. Bolivar was fined US$700, or in default serve four months imprisonment and Loayza was fined US$1,500 or in default serve four months.

The women paid their fines and were handed into the custody of Immigration Department for deportation to their respective countries.

(Excerpt from CMC)

Colombian Police used excessive force during protests – HRW report

ome members of Colombia’s police used excessive force against protesters participating in marches late last year, including beatings and detentions, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a report on Tuesday, as unions and student groups prepared for further demonstrations this month.

Marchers held mass protests in November and December to demand a laundry list of actions from President Ivan Duque’s right-wing Government, on everything from the murders of human rights activists to youth unemployment.

Duque’s administration has been meeting with representatives of the protesters since, but dissatisfied major unions and students groups will hold a new national strike on March 25.

Though marches were largely peaceful, in several instances, Police beat protesters and used crowd-control weapons inappropri-

M

arketing Research and Insight agency Blue Dot handed over J$250,000 to Crime Stop on Tuesday to assist with the investigation into Jasmine Dean’s disappearance.

Founder and CEO Larren Peart told the Jamaica Observer on Monday that after he heard the emotional radio interview by the father of the missing University of the West Indies, Mona student he was forced to assist. “…It really moved me and I felt compelled to do something; I really kind of busted my brain to see what we could do. We are a small company and don’t have that much revenue but what we do have is an online platform of community members that we use to do surveys.

How it works is that we pay people to conduct surveys on our platforms, so if our corporate clients want feedback from their customers or potential customers they give us the survey [to do].

We publish it on this platform and then when the people respond we pay them in cash. So what we decided to do is, instead of having them redeem for cash, we have asked them to redeem their points in exchange for a do-

6 to be deported from The Bahamas

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our Haitian nationals have been ordered deported after they were found guilty of breaching the Immigration Act. The police report that on March 3, the four Haitians – Donna Alain, 35; Allia Samdi, 28; David Toussaint, 37, and Joseph Francis, 34, were found in Grand Bahama, having landed from a place outside The Bahamas without the leave

guyanatimesgy.com

OILNEWS Oil prices trend higher after Russia signals olive branch to OPEC

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n Monday, investors saw a proverbial oil barrel that was decidedly half empty. A day later, it started looking a little fuller.

Oil prices jumped by almost 8 per cent before falling back on Tuesday - a day after the biggest rout in nearly 30 years after Russia signalled that talks with OPEC could still be on the cards and investors took heart after Governments said stimulus measures are in the offing to combat the fallout of the coronavirus outbreak.

United States President Donald Trump on Monday said he will be taking “major” steps to gird the US economy against the impact of the spreading outbreak, while the Japanese Government plans to spend more than $4 billion in a second package of steps to cope with the virus.

Brent crude futures were up 4.71 per cent, to US$35.98 a barrel around noon in New York, after hitting a session high of US$38.22 a barrel.

West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude gained 6.78 per cent to US$33.24 a barrel, after hitting a high of US$34.60.

Both benchmarks had plunged 25 per cent on Monday, dropping to their lowest levels since February 2016 and recording their biggest one-day percentage declines since January 17, 1991, when oil prices fell at the outset of the first Gulf War. Trading volumes in the front-month for both contracts hit record highs in the previous session after three years of cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Russia and other major oil producers to limit supply fell apart on Friday, triggering a price war for market share.

Saudi Arabia, the world’s biggest oil exporter, escalated tensions with plans to supply 12.3 million barrels per day (bpd) in April, well above the current production levels of 9.7 million bpd, Saudi Aramco CEO Amin Nasser said on Tuesday.

April’s crude supply will be “300,000 barrels per day over the company’s maximum sustained capacity of 12 million bpd”, Nasser said in a statement received by Reuters news agency.

Price pared gains by more than US$1 on the news.

Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said he did not rule out joint measures with OPEC to stabilise the market, adding that the next meeting between the cartel and its allies, a pairing known as OPEC+, is planned for May-June.

But in response, the Saudi Energy Minister told Reuters he did not see a need to hold an OPEC+ meeting in May-June if there was no agreement on what measures should be taken to deal with the impact of the coronavirus outbreak on oil demand and prices.

“I fail to see the wisdom for holding meetings in MayJune that would only demonstrate our failure in attending to what we should have done in a crisis like this and taking the necessary measures,” Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud said.

The sentiment was also lifted after Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Wuhan, the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak, for the first time since the epidemic began, and as the spread of the virus in mainland China slows sharply.

China, the world’s second-largest oil consumer, is trying to get people in hard-hit Hubei province back to work by using a mobile phone-based monitoring system that will allow people to travel within the province.

Crude was also supported by potential US output cuts, although analysts warned gains may be temporary as oil demand continues to be hit by the virus outbreak, which has spread beyond China and prompted Italy to implement a nationwide lockdown.

US shale producers rushed to deepen spending cuts and could reduce production after OPEC’s decision to pump full bore into a global market hit by shrinking demand.

“When you look at the leverage the industry is in, at prices of around $30, it’s not profitable,” said Jonathan Barratt, Chief Investment Officer of Probis Group.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2020

17

Around the World

UK Health Minister Dorries diagnosed with coronavirus

B

ritish junior Health Minister Nadine Dorries has tested positive for coronavirus and is self-isolating, she said on Tuesday.

Dorries said she took “all the advised precautions” as soon as she was told of her diagnosis.

“Public Health England has started detailed contact tracing and the Department and my parliamentary office are closely following their advice,” she said in a statement issued through the UK’s Health Department.

The Times reported that

British Conservative MP Nadine Dorries speaks in the Parliament during a debate on alternatives to Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit deal, in London, Britain April 3, 2019, in this screengrab taken from video

Dorries met hundreds of people in Parliament in the

past week and attended a reception with Prime Minister

Boris Johnson.

Britain’s Health Minister, Matt Hancock, tweeted that he was “really sorry” to hear of Dorries’ diagnosis. “She has done the right thing by self-isolating at home,” he said.

Earlier on Tuesday, the death toll in the United Kingdom from the coronavirus outbreak rose to six, British health officials said.

The Health Ministry also said the number of people who had tested positive for the virus had risen to 373 from 319. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Putin paves way for another presidential term

R

ussian President Vladimir Putin has not ruled out running for President again beyond 2024, when his term ends.

But he told Parliament that the Constitutional Court would first have to approve such a step. An MP has proposed “resetting to zero” the number of presidential terms.

Putin, 67, could potentially stay in power until 2036, by winning two more six-year terms.

The former Soviet KGB officer has been in power for 20 years.

Putin, however, rejected

as “not expedient” a different proposal that would simply lift the current prohibition on a President serving more than two consecutive terms.

The amendments addressed by Putin in his televised speech on Tuesday were put forward by MP Valentina Tereshkova, the first woman in space and a strong supporter of his presidency. Most MPs in Parliament - the State Duma - are pro-Putin.

Russia will hold a “public vote” on April 22 to decide if constitutional changes will go ahead. They could signif-

President Putin has dominated Russian politics for 20 years

icantly alter the balance of power between the presidency and Parliament.

The “reset to zero” pro-

posal would, according to Putin, mean “removing the restriction for any person, any citizen, including the current President, and allowing them to take part in elections in the future, naturally in open and competitive elections”.

Vladimir Putin had denied, several times, that he wanted to stay on in power.

Even so, he stressed the need for stability at a “tumultuous” time, suggesting that Russia is not developed enough yet for a change of President. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Marathon Oil cuts spending by about 30% as crude prices slump

M

arathon Oil Corp said on Tuesday it has scaled back drilling activity and cut spending by at least 30 per cent from a year earlier, as shale producers scramble to shore up cash and reassure investors following a crash in oil prices.

Crude prices suffered their biggest one-day rout since the 1991 Gulf War on Monday as top producers Saudi Arabia and Russia vowed to raise production even as the coronavirus out-

break slows demand, threatening to overwhelm oil markets with supply.

Marathon Oil’s shares, which tumbled nearly 47 per cent on Monday, jumped about 32 per cent in early trading. Oil prices jumped by around 8 per cent on Tuesday.

“In response to the recent commodity price volatility from simultaneous supply and demand shocks, we’re taking swift and decisive action to defend our cash flow generation, protect our balance sheet, and fund

our dividend,” Marathon Oil Chief Executive Officer Lee Tillman said in a statement.

Marathon Oil cut its 2020 capital spending to US$1.9 billion, US$500 million lower than its prior forecast.

Oil major Chevron Corp also said it was looking at ways to cut spending, which could lead to lower near-term oil and gas production.

That followed announcements on Monday by Diamondback Energy Inc and Parsley Energy Inc, two of the largest shale inde-

pendents, to cut drilling to maintain cash flow above ongoing expenses.

California Resources Corp will also reduce its capital spending, the smaller oil and gas producer said late on Monday.

Marathon Oil said it will suspend all drilling in Oklahoma and scale back in the Northern Delaware region. It will also optimise development programmes in the Eagle Ford and Bakken basins.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Afghan Government to release 1500 Taliban prisoners from jails – decree

A

fghan President Ashraf Ghani is set to release 1500 Taliban prisoners in coming days to pave the way for direct talks with the insurgent group aimed at ending the 18-yearlong war in Afghanistan, according to a copy of the decree seen by Reuters.

The two-page decree which was signed by Ghani and will be made public later by his office - said that all released Taliban prisoners will have to provide “a written guarantee to not return to the battlefield.”

Talks between the Taliban and Afghan Government to end the war will run parallel with the release, the decree said.

Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani arrives to his inauguration as President, in Kabul, Afghanistan March 9, 2020

If the talks make progress, the Government said it will release a further 500 Taliban prisoners every two weeks until a total of 5000 Taliban prisoners have been freed.

The release of the pris-

oners is part of a confidence-building measure to pave the way for the opening of direct talks between the Government and the insurgents, after talks with both sides and the United States individually.

The issue has become one of the biggest sticking points in any progress towards peace, complicated by differing wording of documents between the United States and the Taliban, and the United States and the Afghan Government.

Commanders of the hardline Islamist group have sent vehicles to be ready to collect the fighters in a prisoner exchange and said they will honour the deal by handing over 1000 Government troops.

It was unclear whether prisoners would be released from other prisons aside from Bagram, a detention facility next to a US military base. (Excerpt from Reuters)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2020

ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

TAURUS

DILBERT

(April 20May 20)

PEANUTS

Deal with negativity without hesitation. Use compliments and diplomacy to drum up support from your inner circle to get things done correctly and on time.

CANCER (June 21July 22)

Focus on what you can do, not on what you can’t.

An excellent professional opportunity will arise. Don’t let your emotions stifle your productivity.

LEO

Partnerships will not be as they seem. Take a step back, be observant and make your move. Consider your motives as well as the motives of the people you deal with today.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

SUDOKU

You’ll end up with additional responsibilities. Use your know-how and reliable support system to ensure everything runs smoothly.

An unexpected change will help you put things in perspective.

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

(July 23Aug. 22)

CALVIN AND HOBBES

You may think you know what you want, but if you don’t do enough research, your expectations will dwindle. Take your time. Your actions will determine your success.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Moving in two different directions will lead to uncertainty. It’s time to multitask your way to success. If you can handle both personal and professional requirements, you will make an excellent impression.

Traveling, socializing and following a path that speaks to you are favored.

Control your emotions, keep things in perspective and don’t get sucked into someone else’s melodrama.

Refuse to become part of someone else’s plot. Don’t show concern, but do your homework before you commit. When in doubt, follow a path that is yours and yours alone.

You’ll attract attention SAGITTARIUS regardless of where you go (Nov. 23or what you do. Don’t offend Dec. 21) someone by divulging information that was supposed to be kept secret. Moderation is in your best interest.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19)

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

If you take your time, you will end up in a better position. You won’t fool anyone when it comes to emotional matters. Tell it like it is and keep moving.

Don’t get caught up in someone else’s belief system. Walk away from demanding people. Stop carrying negative baggage. Rid yourself of past regrets and keep moving forward.

A past partnership will have a significant impact on you. Turn a negative situation into a positive one. Live in the moment and strive to make the most of what you’ve got.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2020

19

NBA round-up

Nuggets send Bucks to 3rd straight loss J

amal Murray scored 21 points, including Denver’s first nine to start the fourth quarter, Paul Millsap had 20 points and 10 rebounds, and the hosts Nuggets beat the short-handed Milwaukee Bucks 109-95 on Monday night.

Jerami Grant added 19 points for Denver, and Gary Harris had 15. Will Barton scored 13 points and Nikola Jokic had 10 points, nine rebounds and seven assists for the Nuggets, who swept the season series from the NBA leaders.

Milwaukee played without reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo (left knee injury) and nearly the entire starting lineup to end a 0-3 road trip.

Also out were Eric Bledsoe (knee), George Hill (groin), Khris Middleton (rest), Brook Lopez (rest) and Donte DiVincenzo (rest), leaving them without their top six scorers.

Kyle Korver led the Bucks with a season-high 23 points, Sterling Brown had 16 points, Robin Lopez scored 11 and DJ Wilson contributed 10 points and nine boards.

Atlanta Hawks 143-Charlotte Hornets 138 (2OT)

De’Andre Hunter gave hosts Atlanta the lead by making three free throws with 13.3 seconds left in the second overtime, and the Hawks held on to defeat Charlotte.

Atlanta were led by Trae Young with 31 points and 16 assists. John Collins had 28 points on 12-for-13 shooting and grabbed 11 rebounds, and Cam Reddish, who returned after exiting the previous game due to leg cramps, had 22 points. The Hawks set a season high with 21 3-pointers (on 43 attempts).

The Hornets got a career-high 40 points from Terry Rozier, 27 points and 10 rebounds from Devonte’ Graham, and a career-high 23 points from rook-

ie Caleb Martin, who entered the game averaging 4.3 points.

Toronto Raptors 101-Utah Jazz 92

Serge Ibaka scored 27 points and grabbed 13 rebounds as Toronto defeated Utah in Salt Lake City to extend their winning streak to four games. Pascal Siakam added 27 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists, and Kyle Lowry had 21 points for the Raptors, who finished a 4-1 road trip.

Joe Ingles had 20 points off the bench — 10 in the fourth quarter — for the Jazz, who had their winning streak end at five.

Royce O’Neale added 15 points, Mike Conley had 13 and Donovan Mitchell scored 11 for Utah. Mitchell and Conley combined for his 8 of 28 field-goal attempts.

The Raptors lost guard Norman Powell 95 seconds into the first quarter with a sprained left ankle after he collided with teammate OG Anunoby on a defensive play under the basket. (Reuters) Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (USA TODAY Sports)

La Liga, French club matches Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos & Barca Champions League Marinakis has coronavirus game behind closed doors E

M

Barcelona drew 1-1 with Napoli in the first leg of their last-16 tie (Rex-Features)

atches in the top two divisions in Spain and France are to be played behind closed doors because of coronavirus concerns.

La Liga announced its ruling will affect the next two rounds of fixtures while the French league said fans will be banned until April 15.

La Liga said it acted on guidance from Spain's ministry of health.

The French government announced on Sunday a ban on all gatherings of more than 1000 people.

Barcelona's Champions League match against Napoli on March 18 will also be played at an empty Nou Camp.

"The decision has been made strictly for health reasons," said Joan Guix, Catalunya government's health chief.

It is the second Spanish-Italian Champions League fixture at which supporters have been banned, following Valencia versus Atalanta on

Tuesday.

Sevilla's match against Roma and Getafe's game with Inter Milan in the Europa League have suffered the same fate.

Paris St-Germain's Champions League match against Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday will also be closed to fans.

All sport in Italy has been suspended until at least April 3 because of coronavirus. The ruling includes Serie A matches but not Italian clubs or national teams participating in international competitions.

Germany's international friendly with Italy in Nuremberg on March 31 will also be played behind closed doors. England are due to play Italy at Wembley four days earlier.

Manchester United's Europa League last16 first leg match at LASK Linz in Austria on Thursday is another match that will be played without fans. (BBC Sport)

v a n g e l o s Marinakis was at Emirates Stadium on February 27 watching Olympiakos beat Arsenal Nottingham Forest and Olympiakos owner Marinakis has tested positive for coronavirus.

Marinakis, 52, was at the City Ground for Forest's Championship fixture against Millwall on Friday.

Olympiakos are due to host Wolves in the Europa League on Thursday, although the BBC understands Wolves have asked for the game to be postponed.

"Mr Marinakis was Evangelos Marinakis was at Emirates Stadium on February 27 watching diagnosed after show- Olympiakos beat Arsenal (Rex-Feautres) ing the first sympsures and I discipline to the doctor's intoms on his return to structions."

Greece," said Forest.

Millwall, who won Friday's game in "During his stay in Nottingham he did Nottingham 3-0, have said that "senior club not show any symptoms of the virus.

"The club are seeking advice from medi- representatives who came into contact with cal professionals and the relevant govern- Mr Marinakis have begun a period of self ing bodies to ensure the correct measures isolation".

A club spokesman added: "This is purely are taken."

Marinakis had earlier revealed he had a precautionary measure and no individual been diagnosed with coronavirus on social has displayed any symptoms. The club will continue to follow all necessary guidance media platform Instagram.

"The recent virus has 'visited' me and I from the appropriate bodies."

The Lions are due to host Derby County felt obliged to let the public know," he said.

"I feel good as I take all the necessary mea- at The Den on Saturday. (BBC Sport)

20

T

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2020

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Tottenham knocked out of Champions League by Leipzig

ottenham Hotspur's Champions League campaign came to an end as they were well beaten

by RB Leipzig in the last 16.

The German club - who were only formed 10 years ago - led 1-0 from the first leg in London and Marcel Sabitzer's double at the Red Bull Arena put Leipzig in control.

Spurs keeper Hugo Lloris should have done better for both goals - getting a hand to both the Leipzig captain's 20-yard shot and near-post header.

Emil Forsberg scored with his first touch after coming off the bench to give Leipzig a 4-0 aggregate win.

Injury-hit Spurs never looked capable of mounting a comeback like the one against Ajax last season which took them to the final and will now finish the season without a trophy again.

Atalanta beat Valencia to advance

Hugo Lloris got a touch to both of Marcel Sabitzer's goals but could not keep them out (Getty Images)

Jose Mourinho's side - who have not won in six games in all competitions -

will need to find some form if they are to be back in this tournament at all next sea-

son. They are seven points behind the top four in the Premier League.

Atalanta eased into the Champions League quarter-finals as Josip Ilicic hit four goals against Valencia, in the first match of the competition to be played behind closed doors because of the coronavirus outbreak.

The Italians arrived in Spain with a commanding 4-1 lead from the first leg of their last-16 tie and quickly added to their advantage inside an eerie Mestalla Stadium.

With the chants of a large gathering of home supporters outside the ground clearly audible, Slovenia forward Ilicic converted a third-minute penalty for the Serie A side after he had been fouled by Valencia defender Mouctar Diakhaby.

And while Kevin Gameiro capitalised on a defensive mix-up to tap in an equaliser for the hosts, Diakhaby's

handball allowed Ilicic to score his second spot-kick of the evening to put the visitors 6-2 up on aggregate.

A second Gameiro goal, this time from a close-range header, levelled the score on the night before Ferran Torres' lobbed effort put the La Liga side in front.

However, Ilicic's rasping left-foot drive from 20 yards restored Atalanta's threegoal aggregate lead as he became the first Slovenian player to score a Champions League hat-trick.

Ilicic's fourth, a left-foot effort into the top left corner, rounded off an 8-4 aggregate win on a fine evening for Gian Piero Gasperini's side, who have now scored 28 goals in their last seven games and become the competition's first debutants to reach the last eight since Leicester City in 2016-17. (BBC Sport)

Coronavirus:

Olympics official discusses possibility of postponing Games 1-2 years

A man wearing a face mask, following an outbreak of the coronavirus, walks in front of giant Olympic rings at the waterfront area at Odaiba Marine Park in Tokyo (Reuters)

T

he upcoming Summer Olympics likely would be postponed one or two years if they do not go on as scheduled due to concerns about the coronavirus outbreak, a member of the Tokyo 2020 organising committee’s executive board told The Wall Street Journal.

Haruyuki Takahashi told the newspaper in an article published Tuesday that other options — such as playing the Games without spectators or canceling them entirely — would have substantial financial ramifications. Thus, a postponement would be the best option if the Games do not begin as scheduled.

“I don’t think the Games could be canceled. It’d be a delay,” Takahashi told The Wall Street Journal. “The International Olympic

Committee (IOC) would be in trouble if there’s a cancellation. American TV rights alone provide them with a huge amount.”

IOC organising committee president Yoshiro Mori said last month that the Olympic Games — which begin July 24 — are expected to go on as scheduled.

“I would like to make it clear again that we are not considering a cancellation or postponement of the games. Let me make that clear,” Mori told top IOC officials in Tokyo on February 13.

Should a postponement be considered, however, it would cost a pretty penny for NBC. The network, which owns the Olympic broadcasting rights in the United States, announced last week that it has already secured US$1.25 billion

in advertising revenue ahead of the Games.

While money plays a significant role in decisions, it should be noted that the spread of the coronavirus has already had a significant impact on international sports around the world.

In Japan, preseason baseball games have been played at empty stadiums. Officials of Nippon Professional Baseball announced Monday that the season, originally scheduled to open on March 20, will not get underway until some time in April at the earliest.

CNN reported Tuesday that the coronavirus has caused 26 deaths in the United States, with 732 known cases. Worldwide, more than 4000 people have died and more than 113,000 people have been infected. (Reuters)

No handshakes for South Africa while on tour in India S outh Africa and India are likely to avoid shaking hands with each other during their three-match ODI series, which starts on Thursday, and will exchange fist bumps instead as a precaution against COVID-19 (novel coronavirus). The 11-day tour is going ahead after CSA conducted an expert assessment of the risk of traveling given the growing number of global coronavirus infections, and deemed it safe for the team to transit through New Dubai and Delhi and play in Dharamsala, Lucknow and Kolkata. The team has been briefed on precautionary measures and CSA's chief medical officer, Dr Shuaib Manjra, will be traveling with the team.

Other than the lack of handshakes - which will also be the case for England in Sri Lanka - South Africa have not been given any other specific instructions. They will continue to interact with fans and have even taken some photographs with them, including selfies. Firdose Moonda

March 9

The BCB restricted the sale of tickets – one per person – for the first T20I between Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, to be played in Dhaka, in a bid to "discourage public gathering" following concerns about the spread of COVID-19. With one person being sold only one ticket, the target is to keep the crowd to one-fifth of the capacity at the 25,000-seater Shere Bangla National Stadium.

Virat Kohli and Quinton de Kock have a chat on their way to the coin toss (BCCI)

March 6

South Africa's tour of India for three ODIs will go ahead after the organisation completed a risk assessment regarding the spread of COVID-19 across the world. While South Africa reported its first confirmed case of the virus on Thursday, India's health ministry has estimated infections are affecting around 30 people. But a team of experts have deemed the country and the team's transit routes safe for travel. CSA's chief medical officer Dr Shuaib Manjra will make the trip with the team.

March 5

The Everest Premier League, Nepal's foremost franchise T20 tournament, has been postponed following a government directive to refrain

from mass gatherings amid fears about the transmission of COVID-19.

March 4

The Sindh provincial government has ruled out moving PSL games out of Karachi amid fears of the coronavirus outbreak. According to reports, there have been five cases of the virus in Pakistan so far, including three in Federal Areas and two in Karachi, where a school has been shut down till March 13.

March 3

England's players will not be shaking hands with one another on their tour to Sri Lanka, captain Joe Root has revealed, "the well-established fist bump" is to be used as a greeting instead. (ESPNcricinfo)

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Fears over COVID-19 force postponement of 2020 Grenada Invitational C

oncerns regarding the spread of the deadly COVID-19 virus has led to the postponement of the 2020 Grenada Invitational, organisers said in a statement today.

In recent weeks, the Coronavirus has spread to 111 countries and has infected more than 100,000 people across the globe, killing more than 3000 of them.

It is against this background that the Local Organising Committee of the relays has taken what they have described as a difficult decision.

“After extensive deliberations with local public health officials, our broadcast partners, sponsors and athletes representatives, it was determined that the paramount importance of the health of our citizens and the expected influx of travellers (athletes, etc)

warranted us to err on the side of caution,” organisers said in a statement today.

“As such, in light of

World Class event.”

Some of the world’s best track and field athletes were down to compete at the Grenada Invitational as they gear up for the 2020

Kirani James

the fluidity and uncertainty related to (COVID-19), it has become necessary to postpone the 4th annual Grenada Invitational that was scheduled for April 4th, 2020.

“The improbability and flexibility of the situation changes from day to day and these uncertainties are sure to hinder in the delivery of a

Olympics in Tokyo, Japan that is also under threat because of the spread the virus that has seen thousands of Japanese citizens being infected.

Schools in that country have been ordered closed and public gatherings have been banned until the end of April when the International

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longer a threat and normalcy in travel and other routine activities is returned,” the statement said.

Elaine Thompson-Herah, the 2016 double Olympic champion, 2011 World Champion Yohan Blake, and Olympic and World Champion Kirani James were to be among the headliners at the meet this year as the organizers had begun to assemble a world-class field of athletes for the meet.

Also confirmed were the likes of Briana Williams, Kendra Harrison, Asafa Powell, Justin Gatlin, and Tajay Gayle. (Sportsmax)

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Olympic Committee is expected to make a final decision on whether the Games will be held.

Similarly, the organisers of the Grenada Invitational said they will decide if and when the meet will be held this year.

“Grenada Invitational will, as the rest of the sporting world, monitor the global conditions and along with track and field’s governing body, World Athletics and our broadcast partner, a new date for the meet will be announced once the (COVID-19) is no

"Lack of courage" killed West Indies Women’s T20 World Cup hopes – Coach S

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West Indies Women did not make it out of the group stage in the Women T20 World Cup

W

indies Women’s coach Gus Logie is a disappointed man after his side was unceremoniously ousted from the recently concluded ICC Women’s T20 World Cup but it isn’t because of the losses, it’s because he believes they can do better.

According to Logie, the West Indies Women are a much better batting team than they have proved so far.

“It’s T20 cricket, you need show courage, you need to show composure. If you are timid you are not going produce the kind of scores you want to produce and we’ve seen that with our batting, it’s been pretty timid the whole series starting with the first game against Thailand when you have a score of 70-odd to get and it took 16 overs to get it,” said Logie, who watched as his side started with a seven-wicket win over Thailand before being blitzed by Pakistan and then England. Their final game against South Africa was abandoned on account of persistent showers.

“That tells me, at the end of the day,

while the players have some batting ability I think there’s a fear factor in the middle to play their natural game. It’s unfortunate that they wait until they get to the highest level of the game, in a World Cup, to show that lack of courage,” he said.

Logie went on to say that you saw the difference in the team when they were in training where they felt the freedom to play the way they play.

“Batting is an individual thing, you play as well as you can, you have to back yourself. Some of the balls these ladies are patting, you bowl those balls in the nets and they go way, way out of it. It’s not to say they can’t play the shots, I think it’s about believing in themselves under pressure.

“Over the years, we’ve always had good performances, but if you look at the scores they’ve always been about 120-130. We’ve had good bowling performances and defended it in the field. I don’t think we have scored 160s and 170s as regularly as we want to.”

(Sportsmax)

ri Lanka have left Lahiru Thirimanne out of their Test squad to play England, and Kusal Perera has been included in his place despite a finger injury leaving him doubtful for the first game of the twomatch series.

Wanindu Hasaranga was named as the 16th member of the squad, but with an addendum that his left hamstring injury would not allow him to take part in the series. A replacement is expected to be picked before the first Test.

There are three specialist spinners already in the squad however - with offspinner Dilruwan Perera, left-arm spinner Lasith Embudleniya and leftarm wristspinner Lakshan Sandakan all in the 15.

Dhananjaya de Silva is around to bowl some offspin as well. There are four specialist seam-bowlers: Suranga Lakmal, Lahiru Kumara, Kasun Rajitha and left-armer Vishwa Fernando.

This surfeit of bowlers means there is only room for one spare batsman - Kusal Perera - in addition to the top seven that played Sri Lanka's most-recent Test in Harare.

Thirimanne is the only omission from the squad that won 1-0 in Zimbabwe in January. He did not play any part in that series, and last played in the series against New Zealand in August 2019.

Perera had been left out for the tour of Zimbabwe

earlier this year. That completed a strange year for him in the format, after he had played one of the great Test innings of all time in Durban in February 2019, but totalled just 44 runs in three Tests after that, including bagging a pair in Colombo against New Zealand in August in what was his last Test appearance.

He was in the squad for the December Test tour of Pakistan, but didn't get a game, and chief selector Asantha de Mel confirmed while announcing the squad for Zimbabwe that Perera had been dropped after consultation with coach Mickey Arthur, who felt it was better for the wicketkeeper-batsman to remain in Sri Lanka and train for the white-ball series against West Indies, rather than tour Zimbabwe and not get a game.

England play two Tests, the first starting in Galle on March 19. They had won each of the three Tests on their last tour of Sri Lanka, in late 2018.

Squad: Dimuth Karunaratne (capt), Oshada Fernando, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Kusal Perera, Dhananjaya De Silva, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Dilruwan Perera, Lasith Embuldeniya, Lahiru Kumara, Vishwa Fernando, Kasun Rajitha, Lakshan Sandakan, Suranga Lakmal, Wanindu Hasaranga (injured, replacement to be named before first Test) (ESPNcricinfo)

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2020

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Early Season Classic

“Best of the best” to compete this weekend

F

or many reasons, the Leonora Track and Field Facility will be ignited this weekend (March 14 and 15), as

tunity for those youths who are hoping to make it to this year’s CARIFTA Games in Bermuda.

However, the AAG

the 2020 Tokyo Olympics; International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Grand Prix and Continental circuit, they

A glimpse of what to expect over the weekend at Leonora

the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) hosts the Early Season Classic over the weekend.

For starters, this weekend’s event is being used as the final qualification oppor-

Priyanna Ramdhani in action

sought to add a bit more excitement to the two-day meet by allowing senior athletes to compete. While the more experienced athletes will be focused on hitting the mark, with their eyes on

will also face the adversity of having to compete against the younger crowd.

The battle of youth versus experience will get better, as the AAG made the decision to invite the best

athletes from each age group, instead of having a free-for-all meet. President Aubrey Hutson shared why.

“What we did was we basically invited the cream of the crop of Guyanese track and field to the competition this weekend. The athletes who we think did not meet the level to be there we did not invite them,” Hutson revealed.

Aside from the biggest goal of making the CARIFTA Games, which are scheduled for the Easter weekend (April 10-13), the younger athletes will be looking to impress in order to book spots in the World Juniors, South American Youth and Juniors and Grenada’s Whitsuntide Games.

Sharing the rationale behind mixing the groups, the AAG President explained that it was a way to better prepare the youngsters for international competition.

“The reason why we do this is because when our youth and junior athletes go into CARIFTA Games, running with our seniors is the kind of competition that they have to be prepared for when they go out there, because people like Jamaica and Bahamas are on a different level, so if we can expose them to that lev-

AAG President Aubrey Hutson

el of competition, it is the same kind that they’ll be going into when they get to CRAIFTA,” he noted.

The AAG boss went on to reveal his expectations for the highly-anticipated Early Season Classic.

“The level of competition is going to be very, very high, because there are a lot of the junior athletes who feel that they can beat the seniors, and the seniors will really and truly want to make a statement that they’re not ready to give up their position as being the top athletes in the country,” he stated.

The AAG President went on to state, “All in all, I think everyone competing this weekend will put

it out there to show us the Association as to their level of fitness and level of competitiveness, so we can look at them for selection for international competition.”

On a different note, Hutson declared that the Association is looking to have an early start.

“We actually will start at 11 o’clock, but we encourage teams to be there by 10 o’ clock, because after 10:30 we will not be issuing numbers and that kind of story,” he warned.

Thus far, 12 Guyanabased athletes have hit the qualifying mark for this year’s CARIFTA Games in Bermuda while one foreign-based athlete has qualified.

The junior athletes who have already made the qualification times locally for the CARIFTA Games are Adriel Austin, Annalisa Barclay, Seon Booker, Princess Browne, Anisha Gibbons, Trevon Hamer, Randy Hamilton, Attoya Harvey, Lionel Marks, Okenoko Pascal, Keliza Smith, and Wesley Tyndall.

Meanwhile, Kenisha Phillips is the foreign-based student athlete.

Guyana is looking to take a team of 15 or more athletes to the Bermuda games. (Jemima Holmes)

Ramdhani siblings finish 4th in Canadian Nationals

P

laying for the Kings University Eagles and the Old’s College Broncos respectively, Narayan and Priyanna Ramdhani represented themselves and Guyana well over the weekend as they both finished in the top four at the 2020 Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Badminton National Championships held in Mississauga, Canada.

The competition, which ran from March 3 to March 8, saw the best of the best in the nation vying for the top honours. Granted that the level of competition was high, both Narayan and Priyanna finished second and won silver medals at the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) Provincial Championships held in Edmonton, which allowed them to play in the national tournament representing Alberta at the CCAA. Competing in a pool of top-notch players from more than 15 colleges/universities, the Ramdhani siblings did well to make it through the round robin but did not have such luck when they got to the

semi-finals.

In the men’s singles, Narayan defeated Jack Gillies 21-8, 21-9 and Ryan Chen in a close 21-18, 21-18 to advance to the semi-finals. However, at this stage, he lost to Pranav Satheesh 21-16, 21-10. In the battle for the third position, Narayan suffered a second defeat, this time at the hands of Roymond Kim 21-8, 21-11, and had to settle for fourth.

Priyanna’s script unfolded in similar fashion, as she won the round-robin encounters, but did not hold up in the semi-finals. Priyanna bested Huyen Le 21-8, 21-9 and Chloe Moisan 21-8, 21-8 in the round-robin stage. However, in the semi-final Huyen got the better of the Guyanese teenager 21-8, 21-9. The third-place encounter bore the same result as Ann Hoang held out in a thrilling three-setter to get the better of her 21-14, 16-21, 21-14.

The Guyana Badminton Association (GBA) is said to be extremely proud of the excellence and consistency being shown by the siblings.

Narayan Ramdhani in action

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2020

23

Coach Smith happy with Berbice female team’s title efforts T

he Berbice senior female team have been a dominant force in the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Superbet senior female tournament as they took a comfortable seven-wicket win against Demerara in the final round.

After the match, the team’s Coach, Winston Smith, expressed his satisfaction with the team's allround efforts.

"I have been working with female players for over 15 years and I am happy to be associated with the GCB, and I am also happy that I led the Berbice female team to [their] seventh consecutive win," he declared.

Smith was impressed with the young players coming through the ranks, from all three counties. The Cricket West Indies (CWI) Level Three Coach was also impressed with Shabika Gajnabi's brilliance.

"Over the years, she has

A delighted Team Berbice after their championship win (Brandon Corlette photo)

been very committed and dedicated. She has gone on and done well; she made 215 in a rain-affected match and come out not out in the final against Demerara. Last

year, she was U-19 and she led the U-19 team by defeating Demerara. She has now made the West Indies and I just wish her all the best to keep working hard," Smith

said.

He is also hoping that young players follow in her footsteps and be selected at the highest level. Berbice’s opening round against the

Cornwall unfazed by fitness noise, says performance is key

W

est Indies Test spinner and Leewards Islands Hurricanes all-rounder Rahkeem Cornwall has always been placed under the fitness microscope.

"People will always have their thoughts and saying, I have to do what makes me comfortable and keeps me performing. That (the fitness talk) is out of my control, I

Select U-19 was affected by rain, with Gajnabi starring with an unbeaten 215, while the veteran Tremayne Smartt scored an unbeaten 64.

In the second match, leftarm spinner Dian Prahalad grabbed a five-wicket haul as Berbice routed Essequibo 35 all out and took a 10-wicket victory.

In the third and final round, Plaffianna Millington took four wickets in a Player-of-the-Match effort to restrict Demerara to 104 all out.

In reply, skipper Gajnabi led the charge with an unbeaten half-century.

The Regional Women's tournament will be played in Guyana later this month.

Guyana’s team will be announced on March 13, and that unit will be encamped shortly after. They will be under the watchful eyes of Coach Rayon Griffith, who is fresh from a coaching stint as West Indies Women Assistant Coach in the International Cricket Council (ICC) Women's World Cup. (Brandon Corlette)

Briton John storms to victory in Linden LonLam cycling

Cornwall celebrates with his teammates (Brandon Corlette photos)

Rahkeem Cornwall bowls

have to control what I can, just got to keep putting in the work," Cornwall explained.

The man who took his 300th First-Class wicket in his 67th match at the regional level at Guyana’s National Stadium disclosed that this was a good feeling. "I have never been aware of the milestone, but it's a good feeling, a good achievement."

Currently with 30 wickets in five matches this season, the champion off-spinner re-

vealed that he has a certain number of games to play.

"I think I'm resting after this round; if I do come back before this season finishes, I will do my best and see how I can get Leeward Islands over the line," the burly off-spinner said.

With West Indies set to tour England this summer, the Test spinner stated that playing First-Class cricket was always a good warm-up.

He pointed out that it was always good to give back to the local franchise. "It might be different conditions, but I just have to stick with it and bowl a lot of overs.”

With Hurricanes at the bottom of the championships table on 48.4 points after seven rounds, Cornwall noted that the back end of the tournament would be important for the newbies to Four-Day cricket.

"We're not really up there for the Four-Day championships, but we have young guys in the team who are looking forward to First-Class cricket, so they can have enough confidence leading into the pre-season so they just have to get a taste heading into the upcoming season," Cornwall concluded.

The off-spinner has played two Test matches and a total of 67 First-Class matches. He has a tally of 303 wickets in the longer format, including 19 five-wicket hauls with a best bowling figure of 8-51. His record for a spinner remains supreme; additionally, he has one First-Class century and 13 half-centuries. (Brandon Corlette)

B

Briton John

riton John completed a crushing win in the 20-lap race at the Ameila's Ward inner circuit on Monday last to finish ahead of 23 cyclists in the senior cate-

gory.

John finished ahead of Curtis “Chappy” Dey; Andre “Padlock” Green; Paul DeNobrega; Marcus Keiler and Marlon “Fishy” Williams in that order. Dey took two of the five sprint prizes while DeNobrega, John and Green accounted for the other three.

In the 12-14 schoolboys’ two-lap race, Stephen Lalta of St Michael’s Private School copped first place ahead of Orin Allen and Mark Lewis. Seasoned women cyclist Clivecia Spencer, along with Savannah Hyles, captured the senior and junior categories, respectively.

Suzanne Hamilton finished second in the senior category while Maliah DeSantos took the second position in the junior event.

Sagon Hubbard of Team Evolution took an early lead and maintained his dominance in also capturing the three sprint prizes ahead of Ralph Williams and Nigel London, who finished in that order in the veterans’ race.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2020

Sports is no longer our game, sports it’s our business

guyanatimesgy.com

Early Season Classic

“Best of the best” to compete this weekend

Briton John storms to victory in Linden LonLam cycling Page 23

Page 22

Cornwall unfazed by fitness noise, says performance is key

Page 23

Ramdhani siblings finish 4th in Canadian Nationals Page 22

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